purr, purr

Miranda has been insistent that she wants to be, no, WILL be, in my lap several times a day. I have the keyboard tray so low that it's basically already IN my lap, so if she's there, the keyboard isn't really accessible. She leaps up, wriggles around, and flomps-- there really is no other word for it, she flomps, onto her back with her legs all sprawled out to give me maximum access to her belly. She purrs loudly the whole time, so at least I know my efforts are not going unappreciated. Which is good, all in all. Still, I can't get extra time to do my papers because I'm scratching a cat's belly, no matter how I wish otherwise. So I turn on the heating pad so carefully placed on the desk, wrapped in a snuggly towel, and she doesn't even pause before heading back to my lap. It may be a bit more appealing when the room temp is noticeably colder, but right now with balmy temps both outdoors and in, it's a lap she wants, and no mistaking. Sigh.

Heh.

Ya know I said the Public Libraries teacher wanted us to be "imaginative" and "creative"? One of the "Service Responses" I selected is "Business and Career Information." I'm interpreting that VERY loosely, and tying it in with "Literacy", which according to the list of Service Responses is either "Basic Literacy" or "Information Literacy." I'm interpreting "Basic" literacy to include computer literacy, and just to embroider the issue (gild the lily?) even further, I've added what I call "Business Literacy" which includes Resume writing, Interview Etiquette, and finding employment info online, as well as Business English and basic training in Word, Access, Excel and Quicken. (After re-reading this, maybe I should throw in an Advanced class in Random capitalization.)

Lest you all fear that this is a mad plot (vast left wing conspiracy!!) to put the local Tech schools out of business, library classes are typically at a VERY basic level. Kind of like "Double click on that icon there. Now, type here. Backspace to delete. No, 'Hello" has two Ls, not one." Believe me, the tech schools are in no danger.

Anyway, as a corollary to this whole thing, I recommend that there be a phone available for job-seeking purposes, to be limited to 3X/day, at 10 min each call. To enforce this? Here's the imaginative part. I suggest that the phone be accessible through a "Card-swipe or scanner system." I have no idea that such a thing actually exists, but I don't see why it can't.

I've shot my imaginative wad, so to speak. I've ordered up a ton of classes that include ESL and yes, basic literacy in addition to the "Business Literacy" stuff. Hey, she didn't ask for realistic, she asked for creative. Can't have it both ways. Let somebody else figure out the details.

Now I just lack one page to wrap it all up. Yes, I KNOW that's always the hardest part. And the wrap-up is supposed to explain how this is going to "Help build community and turn the library into a dynamic fordce for positive change." Still, the end is in sight.

Woo HOOOOOO!

I think I'm done with That Damned Paper. And aren't you thrilled to hear it? Enough with the bitching, already, say you, and who could blame you? It's terribly vague and corny as hell. Whatever. I'm printing it out now and will re-read and touch it up later. Tiny little edits, because I've been re-reading and editing it constantly.

I am now going to reward myself by taking the rest of the evening off. Tomorrow morning I go back to the paper about parchment and iron gall ink. That has its own charms, but at least I have some interest in the topic, ranging somewhere between a little and a lot, depending on the exact question at hand.

I'm reading a Patricia McKillip book called Od Magic and I'm enjoying it. I might, however, put it aside for the evening. See, I just got the latest Janet Evanovich, this one in her new series with a NASCAR-loving heroine. I didn't start it last night because I knew I wouldn't put it down till it was done, and I had to finish That Damned Paper. I'll bet I can finish it tonight, however, with a whole evening to devote to it.

Aaaaaaaannnnnd she's off!