Late Start Yesterday - Early Start Today

 I haven't been to bed yet. Correction: I haven't been to sleep. I think it is because I slept in a bit later yesterday morning (as did the Wife after dropping Youngest off at school). I laid down near midnight, and tried for an hour or so before just getting up so as not to wake the Wife. I came into the office, thinking to watch a movie or something, but  started looking at some of the book sites I go through, and pulled in some more authors/books I want to try reading - meaning, these are already published pieces, not necessarily for a review (though I could do one still). I then went to my ebook library program (Calibre, if you must know - which is completely free to use) and started comparing that to my 'Want To Read' list on Goodreads.com - and there were some I removed from that list, and some I removed from my library. I try not to keep books that I just didn't like, so anything in the 'Books Read' library, are probably books I enjoyed or am willing to recommend to someone. I have like over 30 sections in the entire library, as I try to sort the books out ie) a longer series, or collection of series that continue the long story. Some I just have by author name, as that author wrote many books (mostly series in my library) like Lincoln Child & Douglas Preston writing the Pendergast series (separate from their individual books written) (also, 'The Relic' the first book, was made into a movie, but the series character Agent Pendergast, was not in the movie - weird fact).

Okay, okay. I just spent another 45 minutes going to check one thing, and then found some more books to get, plus wasting that time instead of finishing this post....

So last Saturday I had met my brother up at the Post. He had asked about me going up north this weekend to visit his kids. I scoffed and said something along the lines of 'Like they want to see me'. But I guess they do. His wife (notice she only gets a small 'w') isn't going, so I thought about it. I was thinking this could be good, as he and I don't get 'alone' time where we can talk. But then I found out there was a friend of the kids that he was planning on picking up and taking as well (there and back). Well, I told him I needed to talk to the Wife, and see what she thought. Then I get a call from him today, that there was another small change in plans - I am not sharing here, as it is not mine to do so, but it is a consequence of him not raising his children very well, in my opinion. 

Well, the Wife and I had our lunch date (went to Cracker Barrel, and it was hmm, okay. I brought up about this possible trip, and she thought it would be good for us to have some time together. So I said I would go. I'm paying for two nights at the hotel, and he is paying for the gas (about $5/gal right now). I demanded we take my car (better gas mileage, plus the AWD should the need arise). Plan is to leave Friday late morning I think, and return by Sunday evening. It shall be an interesting trip..... hoping I can get some reading time in as well.

Besides packing a backpack with a couple days worth of clothes, and getting the hotel reservation done, not much on my plate of things to do today. I know I am meeting some buddies around 5pm when the NFL draft starts today. For the past few years we have always met up to watch round one, regardless where our teams pick in the order. Just like to see who we get, and who got whom. I mostly do it to hang out with friends, as I can't keep sports facts in my head like they do. Never could, but some stupid trivial fact, and I'll never forget it. Sigh.

I think I might work on my music list on Spotify, so will have some good traveling music. Might play some Warcraft. Might even be nice to get a nap in, but at this rate, I may pass on that so I will sleep good this evening. Who knows what will happen...

Edit: I never did get to sleep. I did lay back down, but couldn't even nap. So gonna be a long day ....

PeacE

Public Libraries

As far back as I can remember, I have always loved going to the library. Yes, even those times I was required to go for research on school papers, or other class assignments, I still always thrived on going to a library. I still remember the first time my Dad got me a library card, and I was able to check out the first books on my own from that little library back in Kirklin, IN. I don't know the exact three books (personal limit for a kid's card) I had selected, but seem to recall they were in the fantasy fiction genre that I seem to love so much. The thrill when Dad allowed me to get an adult card in Frankfort, IN, though I was not even 11 years old yet, and being able to peruse through the even larger amount of books available... Oh! The personal joy!

There is nothing that brings a more satisfying feeling than going through shelf after shelf of books, and finding one, that after reading it just feels you with joy at finding it on your own. The fulfillment of looking up that research information for whatever reason, and the hunt through the Dewey decimal filing system to locate that specific article/book. The wonderment of all that information around oneself, be it for research, or entertainment, and feeling like you own and control it.

But I feel the way of the Public Library is slowly disappearing. I know many of you older (well, closer to my age anyways) readers would agree. With the internet growing and many places putting all the information out on the 'Web', the days of physical books is declining. Even I have not been in our local branch for nigh on 2 years now. Of course, budget cuts hurt libraries. I know our local branch has changed the hours of operation and cut them so badly, even my kids are unable to get time to go there for school work, as they close too early in the day. Some days, they are only available for a handful of hours.

Libraries offered so many services, and in the larger towns and cities, many of those services are available. Aside form the obvious 'borrowing' of books, services for computer access, media (video, DVD, CD), being able to reserve new releases, and periodicals (magazines, newspapers, etc), one could even just sit in there and read, without taking any materials from the place. 'Going to the library to Study' was always a valid excuse to parents to get out with friends - well, maybe for some people. I always preferred to actually go to the library. If someone didn't know certain information, they would go to the library to find out what they needed (in most cases). Now, the phrase is "Google it!" or "Look it up on the Web".

Physical books have character. As an avid reader, the feeling of a book open in my hands, turning the pages, feeling the weight of printed text on paper, all is a comforting feeling. It brings good memories of my friends (the books) that I have held and recall in my memories of how I traveled through worlds with them. How they taught me ideas and sometimes even, morals and ethics. How I learned how something works, or why and how it happened. The printed word was not the only thing there. Pictures of all shapes or sizes, in color, in plain black and white, and yes, sometimes even sketched. Oh, and how like real people these books are. Each has an odor that tells you about itself. That new book smell as you first open the pages was rare in a library, but sometimes you might be the second or third, and that scent lingered. Sometimes it was the smell of age, as if the book had been unused for many years, waiting for your questing for it to arrive. Many have worn corners, sometimes pages ripped and repaired by tape, sometimes not. Unknown marks and smudges from food, or dirt, or as many of us prefer, we don't want to know. Some I read, even let me know about previous readers and how they cared for the books by showing the bent corners of pages to mark reading spots (obviously did not know how to use a bookmark), or I could scent the smell of smoke from a cigarette, and occasionally a nice pipe.

I sigh with contentment. Yes, I love these places and for what I learned from them. I'm happy to say, that so far my older children have been able to have some sort of affection for books, though in the age of computers, I wonder if I should say, they show the love of reading. I wonder about if I should take them all for trip to our local branch, to let them experience a small portion of what I had when I was younger, before they are gone - the children and the libraries.

PeacE