Le mieux blog dans le monde!

Today I found myself ready to throw a tantrum at work and opted to write my complaints rather than be admitted to a mental health facility.

Really the world should know how stressful the job of a librarian is. This morning my counselor commented on how she has learned a lot about librarian work from the clients she's had over the years and it is not what people generally make it out to be.

Librarians do more than check books in and out to people; although some days (like today)it seems like that is all we ever do (I went to grad school to do what!?). I actually had a jerk of a man accuse me of being lazy because I refused to do a last minute tour so his scout troop could get its library badge in time for the awards ceremony the next day. I wanted to punch him.

There are books to order, not only for your location, but for all the libraries in the library system. Then you have to personally go through every single book, DVD, Cd's, etc., each year to determine if it should be discarded, replaced, forgotten about, and what should be bought to fill gaps in the collection (ie series titles that are missing) for the next fiscal year. My branch holds over 45,000 items.

Then there are weekly story times, Dr Seuss birthdays, National Library Week, Children's Book Week celebrations, and all the other myriad of teen and children's programs offered throughout the year. Not only do we have to find the time to plan them for weeks before they take place, we have to carry them out, which usually involves performing in front of anywhere between 20-150 parents and children. Last year we had a surge in the amount of kids coming to library programs, probably due to the poor economy and the ungodly gas prices last spring and summer. There was also a surge in the number of items checked out and computer usage. All these surges in customer service but no surge or increase in the number of personnel to help them!

Then there are the customers, internal and external. As an assistant manager and children's librarian I get to deal with it all. We have people from all walks of life and all ages coming through our doors. Every single day is challenging. If you're not busy with patrons, then there are the personnel issues. If there aren't the personnel issues, then you're busy with customers and their problems. Usually it is a combination of it all piled up right on your shoulders.

We're expected to do this with a smile on our faces. Day in and day out we are expected to be polite when we are abused: yelled at and cussed at; accused of being rude because we charge patrons for items they obviously damaged and beyond repair (even our automated message reminding people when their items are overdue are called "rude"); and chided for not acting as people's personal secretaries. We have to ask people to watch their language, not to run or jump in the children's area, discuss the computer use policy with people who look at porn on the public computers, listen to people talk about their life problems, threaten to call the police on people who won't leave when they are asked to, listen to complaints about the content of library materials, explain that the item a patron said they turned is no where to be found in the library building regardless of whether they swear on their mother's grave that they turned it in (then it shows up in the book drop a week or two later), babysit kids whose parents believe the library is a safe place or that the staff will keep their kids out of trouble while the parents do online dating or run to the store, babysit adults... (I don't want to get into trouble for expanding on this one), and so on and so forth.

Working with the public is draining and doing it for several years for eight hours plus a day is detrimental to one's health. It must take years off people's lives. I used to think I wanted a job where I could make a difference; a job that means something. Now, I want a job where I sit in a cubicle all day and enter in data; where I can be left alone for a few hours and be allowed to actually get my work done on deadline; where I don't have to talk to a single human being!

Tonight was my first adult education yoga class. Until now my experience with yoga has consisted of trying to follow written instructions from a magazine and a video that I was too immature to take seriously. Life experiences and Miss Read inspired me to give it an honest try.

The highlights:

* The method of breathing (exhaling and inhaling through the nose only) was very relaxing and would have come in handy in the past to combat anxiety problems.

* At the end of the relaxation exercises (aka cool down) we said, "Namaste," which means "I honor the divine in you," a sort of blessing on all the members of the class. The instructor succeeded in conveying this message through the entire routine.

* At the end of class I felt like I was in a another realm; a peaceful realm where the people are full of love. This is a place where you are free from life, which lately is very exhausing. Yeah, it sounds like a cheesy Star Trek episode but it was a genuine experience and one I can't wait to have again.

The verdict? Yoga can be addicting! After just one class, I eagerly anticipate next Thursday's class and the overwhelming feeling of peace. You may think it's "new age-y" or just a fad, but think of it as a form of meditation or guided relaxation like prayer or other religious activities. We all deserve a break, even if just a matter of an hour from the hectic pace and stresses of life.

From the Online Etymology Dictionary:

doctor
c.1303, "Church father," from O.Fr. doctour, from M.L. doctor "religious teacher, adviser, scholar," from L. doctor "teacher," from doct- stem of docere "to show, teach," originally "make to appear right," causative of decere "be seemly, fitting" (see decent). Familiar form doc first recorded c.1850. Meaning of "holder of highest degree in university" is first found c.1375; that of "medical professional" dates from 1377, though this was not common till late 16c. Verb sense of "alter, disguise, falsify" is first recorded 1774.

A Ph.D. is a Ph.D. whether we're talking a doctor of health or an English professor with a doctorate degree. We hold them in the highest regard and expect them to be experts on their subject of study.

Somehow in my mind, the word "doctor" in regards to a health expert or someone who can write me a prescription seems separate than all the rest of the doctors.

I paid tuition to have experts in literature, linguistics, and library science teach me the trade. I pay doctors to make me healthy, although in the last three states none of them seemed to succeed and I had to take matters into my own hands to fix a problem--which I'm happy to say worked.

Is it ethical for our health experts to be influenced by health insurance and pharmaceutical companies to determine the course of action to determine someone's road to health? Our doctors and other health professionals should be teaching us and proving to us their vast knowledge of health and the human body. No more stick a bandage on it (or take a pill) and make it feel better for a month. Let's make them get to the root of the problem and teach us how we can be healed.

Last year I didn't make one New Year resolution. Part of it was feeling bogged down with wedding plans. Unfortunatley, I need direction so my general perception of life in 2008 was I was in limbo.

I exercised until June and then it petered off with no physical exertion from July until now. My goal to eat less fast food failed when in November I said, "Who cares!" when work became more stressful. I pretty much stopped doing anything to better myself, which had been a regular theme for my life for several years.

So this year my plan is to write down some goals in a fairly public place so I will remember to look at (Le mieux blog dans le monde!) and feel motivated to accomplish what I spew, thus living a more fulfilling 2009. The list will be on the the sidebar.

Here's to a new year and the opportunity to start with a new slate.

I really missed out. I'm played Flowerz (so addicting!) and listening to some Bon Jovi music downloaded on the computer. His career was probably on the decline when I was really old enough to form an opinion about muzak and I blew him off as just another hairy-hair band lead singer, except for the Keep the Faith single which I got for xmas in junior high and played over and over and over on xmas day (yeah, I was one of those people).

Of course the CD I'm listening to is from 2005 but that doesn't mean he didn't have some good songs before his comeback. I really like "Living on a Prayer."

And apparently Jon has a heart of gold. He's holding a benefit concert for Sen. Hilary Clinton to help her pay off some of her presidential campaign debt. What a guy! Forget putting a dent in hunger, saving the planet, trying to stop domestic violence or any of the myriad of truly important causes facing the world. I wonder if she'll attend the concert and say a few words. I wonder if she's a fan or used to be a fan. I wish someone would pass a bill or throw me a concert to pay off my debt. January 15, 2009 is the event in case anyone is interested in the Save Hilary concert.