Eseme's Den

Dear People Who Buy Baklava and Give it to the Staff of Your Library,

We think you rock.

If I ran the place, I would forgive your fines (though not bills for lost items).

Interestingly, the folks who bring us food tend not to have fines. You just do it from the goodness of your heart.

Thank you lots,
Your Happy and Probably Gaining Weight Librarian

One of the less fun parts of being a librarian is writing grants and jumping through hoops to get grant money.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has nicer hoops than most.

These hoops include an all-expenses-paid trip to the Sagamore resort.

Sadly, I don't think the spa is considered a business expense. I'm pretty sure I won't be staying in the Castle either.

However, I am not about to turn down three days and two nights at a posh resort on Bill Gates' dime.

I leave tomorrow afternoon, and return sometime Tuesday. The resort has wireless, but may not have a computer lounge for those of us with no laptops. So I may be without LJ access or email for that time.

They have hiking trails! And I bet there is a pool!

Tomorrow is Lobby Day.

The day that I, and hundreds of other librarians from all over New York State, travel to Albany to talk to our elected leaders about the importance of funding for libraries.

If anyone can hear us over the hordes of reporters trying to talk to our governor.

*sigh*

Timing.

And I thought the bus ride was going to be the hard part.

I graduate on Friday! If anyone reading this is interested in being at a graduation ceremony at 8:00 AM in Buffalo on Friday, please comment with your email (if I don't have it) and I will give you info on how to get there.

I'm also planning on being in Rochester, at least through the middle of July. I may need to drive up to Maine for interviews near the end of May... but I don't have a job as of yet, and some places I have applied are closer to Rochester. Also, it is easier for me to find temp work in a city the size of Rochester than in the small town in Maine my parents live in. Temp work should give me the flexibility to go interview and such.

However, it has just been mentioned to me that maybe I should try being self-employed for a bit, providing a service to friends and friends of friends.

Need your book or movie collection organized or cataloged?
I've already done this for benabik and btoblake. Essentially, I come to your house, take your disorganized book or movie collection, and organize it. Alphabetize by author, or by movie title. You get neat shelves and the ability to actually find your stuff. ( Read more... )

Do you have a lot of photos that need to be digitized?
Did you buy a scanner, or get one free with your computer, with the intention of scanning all those old photos you have? And then you realized that it is pretty dull, monotonous work? Not to fear, I can scan your photos and organize them in folders for you! Now all those vacation photos will be on your hard drive. If you provide me with CDs, I can burn backup copies for you, and label them with the date and the contents of the CD. Note: I do not own a scanner myself, so I can only provide this service to those who own a scanner or have access to one.

Have sewing machine, will travel
I'm a very crafty person, and am willing to work on all sorts of projects. I have slip-covered a couch with no pattern, fixed fake hair falls, and have been known to mend all sorts of stuff. I have sewn for pets in the past. I can make rat-hmmoks for $3 each if you provide the fabric and $5 if I do. The same prices hold for jeans-leg climbing tunnels for your ratties. I can also make cat toys- balls of felt and assorted fabric toys (which I can stuff with captnip if you've got some).

What about general household chores like dishes, gardening, and painting?
Yes, I will do random household stuff too. Although, if your cleaning situation requires hazard pay due to mold, horrific smells, or other badness, this will be charged separately.

ALL JOBS $10/hour. If interested, please comment on this entry or email me
If enough people are willing to pay me to work for them $30 here and $20 there could add up such that I will not need to visit a temp agency.

Those who live in Buffalo and may want to take advantage of my services, feel free to comment as well. I'll be in Buffalo through the end of May and I can fit in an odd job or two between frantic rounds of packing. I'll also be driving in to Buffalo the second Sunday in June and July, so things could be arranged on those days.

Help a friend and get an organized library in return! Just ask benabik and btoblake how nice it is to actually be able to find and use your books!