Archive for good days

raising hell in the castle

May 6, 2008 at 4:43 pm · Filed under good days

Oh hi there, friends. I’m sad to say that this is probably one of the last posts, as I am leaving the castle very soon.

Today, when I came in, I really didn’t feel anything about leaving here. No happiness, sadness, relief. Nothing. It’s just a fact that I’m leaving. I doubt I have really left a lasting impression on the Bea. I came in, I slacked off, got a few things done, and now I’m gone. A mere blip on the Bea’s radar.

But maybe the Bea will remember a few shining moments or maybe even part of our last day together. If she does remember the latter, I owe it to one creature — the most enormous horse fly I’ve ever seen.

When I was shelving some books, I heard a buzzing in the stacks. It was loud. I’m not going to lie, friends, my heart started beating, I put down the book I was holding, and I covered my ears. Because this fly could fly into one of my ears. I shudder to think of it.

So, covering my ears, I indicated to the Bea that a large, agitated fly was on the loose in the castle. The Bea, fearless as always, quickly executed a plan. She obtained a small daily newspaper from our collection (circulation less than 20,000), rolled it up, and prowled the stacks, slapping the shelves and calling out to the fly. She spotted the fly, but with her vision, lost it again. This last part happened several times before the Bea decided to alter her strategy. She searched for something to prop the door open with, and while she was holding the door open and searching, the fly flew out the door! Thank goodness!

Now we just needed to secure the castle doors, lest this fly flies back in, she told me. She shut one door, and I shut the other door. Take that, fly! The Bea started talking “trash” as she secured the doors. I held a straight face, but friends, it was one of the most fun Bea moments.

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the bea, in school?

April 18, 2008 at 7:45 pm · Filed under clashes with technology, empty library, good days

Today became amazing very quickly, friends, when I found out that the Bea taking a two-day class on a topic that requires advanced computer skills. Yes, you heard me, the Bea is being schooled. Not in her own castle, but in a location closeby.

I had heard rumors that such a class was happening. This afternoon, as I was coming into work, I went to where I thought the Bea was taking the class. The doors were closed, and the only evidence of the workshop: a table with what looked like the remains of a delicious breakfast spread. Yum, bagels and coffee….

Ok, stay on topic. So. Just when I was about to give up on seeing the Bea, the doors opened, and out of them flooded the oldest faculty members I’ve ever seen. It was like getting all most ancient people together in one place to learn the most difficult computer tasks they could possibly learn. Could I pay to watch this?

As soon as the doors opened, I charged in, hoping to get a glance of the Bea. But I guess she had gone out the other door because I missed her. Damn. So I walked back upstairs and saw her in the castle, in her element. Where she knows the most and is the best.

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taking my chances with a cup of joe.

April 4, 2008 at 8:00 pm · Filed under drinks policy, good days

Hello there, friends, and how are you?

I have to say that I’m might-y fine. At least by now I am.

This afternoon, when I parked in one of the local garages and started to head in, I had no idea whether the Bea would be here. I decided to take my chances and purchase a latte. I sprinkled a little cocoa on top. Yum. Tempting fate can be so delicious.

Heading toward the library is sort of a rollercoaster of emotions, ranging from fear to self-righteousness, and with my mug in tow, I started to worry what waited for me in the castle doors. Yesterday, the Bea said that we would have things to do today. I flipped through my iPod library to try to find a reassuring song, and, restless and nervous, I settled on “Suddenly I See.”

I headed past the multiple people exiting campus on this fine Friday, and I even did a little dance up the winding staircase leading to the castle doors. No one’s in this building, and I can dance when I want and do what I want. Drink coffee when I want. Right?

As I rounded the corner leading to the doors, I took a deep breath. I thought, I will not hide my coffee today.

I peeked through the doors and saw that the Bea’s office was dark. Hurrah!

And luckily, I have several magazines and the Internet at my fingertips. Good times, indeed.

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Forbidden sandwich

April 1, 2008 at 4:07 pm · Filed under empty library, good days

Hi there. The Bea isn’t back, but we’re expecting her return any day now.

In the meantime, let me tell you about my sandwich, which I am eating at this very moment behind the library desk. Shhhhh. I’m whispering now.

The bread: sour dough, from a new bakery I discovered. There are thin slices of smoked turkey with onion, tomato, lettuce, and cheese stacked between the slices. The lettuce is poking out, and the bread has all sorts of holes in it. The ‘wich was assembled in haste, but it’s so very good and so very forbidden.

I feel like I’m Mr. Huxtable from the Cosby Show. He sneaks into a kitchen, makes a gigantic sandwich (with salt, of course), and he takes that very first delicious bite. He usually gets caught by the Mrs., though, who scolds him like she would a child.

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Best day ever

March 27, 2008 at 7:21 pm · Filed under drinks policy, good days

Oh, friends, let me tell you– today is a good day. Queen Bea is on the road and away from the library for the next two days.

That means I can openly savor this fine coffee I’m drinking. Sad, I know, but there is a hard no-food-or-drinks-policy here in this library. When I first started working here, I would get hungry and dehydrated. Not anymore. I have become quite used to tucking away a mug of coffee and taking secret swigs when Queen Bea’s in her office. When she walks, her keys jingle, and I have just enough time to rehide whatever shenanigans I’m up to.

I spend a lot of my time here looking out for the patrons. Though the no-drinks policy is clearly posted outside the library doors, many of them forget and will drink water or coffee in the library. When the Bea is testy, she will patrol the area and ask people to tuck away their drinks.

This happens on occasion. When an expensive book goes missing in this library, Bea is more likely to tear through the library and ask people to remove their drinks. On these sorts of days, I try to get to the patrons before Bea does. I’ll whisper to them that Bea will likely walk by. They’ll quickly put their drinks away and thank me.

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