Falling Plants, Mutilated Nails and Grinding Teeth

Update from last week. The teen group looked great on their float, however the float gods didn't smile down on them and sadly they didn't win anything.

For today's library news update, the top stories are falling plants, mutilated nails and grinding teeth. Today's work day started off with normal traffic flow no tie ups or crashes down the book shelf asiles. I was throwing together a quick morning work out (I was busy sleeping all night and didn't do my jumping exercises), when Josh came running at me with a very much alive cricket! I jumped up and darted to the top of the information center. This lovely piece of furniture is about 6 feet tall and is just out of jumping distance for the crickets. Now don't get me wrong, I love crickets, just as long as they are wounded or not very active. When they can out jump me, that's when they become a problem. So I was now up on my perch, hiding behind a plant and trying to escape this extra crazy cricket. When I thought that Josh had finaly left me alone I turned around and there he was. I back peddled so fast that I wasn't watching where I was going. I knocked the plant off and brought everyone to a fit of laughter.

I climbed down and tried to settle into my chair, hoping for a nice nap. Erin and Vickie had other plans. Erin pounced on me and tied me down. She gagged my mouth and told me to be quiet. While she did that, Vickie pinched each of my toes, forcing my claws to poke out. She then took out a giant machete and started to hack away at my claws. I squirmed and tried to fight my way out but Erin kept me pinned down. I screamed and hollered to no avail. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they stopped and let me go. My poor toes! My lovely claws that I had worked so hard to grow and sharpen were filed down to nubs. At this point I figured that there was no way that my day could get any worse. But of course, it did.

Just as all the torturing had stopped, the most horrid noise started echoing thoughout the library. A rumbling, growling, terrible screeching filled the air. I ran for cover, scared to know what was coming for me. I knew that this must be the end. My little kitty life was over. A monster was coming to have me for a snack. Tears squeaked out of my pinched closed eyes. This was it... Any second now... It was coming... It was taking longer than I thought...Maybe it stopped to have Erin for a snack on its way to me... Here it comes... Oh come on, where are you already? I opened my eyes and to my relief I realized that the noise had stopped and there was no monster in sight. I crept out of my hiding place. Cautious that it might still be out, I slowly searched the library, unable to find anything that could have made the noise. Just as I was about to give up it started back up again. I flew up into the air. The monster was right in front of me. The only problem was that I couldn't see it. The back door was keeping it outside. I knew that Terry had said that the door was having trouble opening so I figured that I was safe within its hold. I started to let my guard down just as the door swung open. Every hair on my body was standing on end. I could just make out its shadow through the bright light streaming in. I darted away, rushing to save myself. I turned around and saw Erin walking towards the monster! As scared of the monster as I was there was no way I was going to let it eat Erin! I raced towards her, preparing to die for her protection. The monster started to grind its teeth together. I yelled at Erin to get back! That monster was going to eat her! She couldn't hear me over the noise. I darted in between the monster and her. I raised my back and started hissing! The monster quieted. Erin scooped me up, and started telling that it was okay, that it wasn't going to hurt us. I looked out at the monster and realized that it wasn't a monster at all, but the city guys who had come to fix the door. I felt silly for having gotten spooked over nothing. But Erin hugged and thanked me for trying to protect her and I got a treat out of the deal. By now I was exhauasted and just wanted to sleep. Erin set me down and I curled up in my bed. And to think, all this happened before lunch. Lets hope this afternoon is not nearly as eventfull.

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Where Mold Spores Become Golden Nuggets

Over the last week the staff has been running around like chickens with their heads cut off. IT’S FALL FESTIVAL TIME! And just like last year we’re putting a float together. Erin and some of the teen group have been getting together the past two Tuesday nights and have been constructing some really crazy stuff. They connected some pool noodles together and filled the shape with balloons. It looked like she and the teens were building a model of a mold spore. Erin had once again totally confused me with her contraption. I chocked it up to her being a teensy bit crazy, (most librarians are) and went about my business for the evening. An hour or so had passed and I decided that I should probably go and check to make sure that the mold spore hadn’t decided to eat Erin or any of the other teens as a snack. They had covered it with paper mache and it now looked like a lumpy blimp. I was just about to compliment them on their fine art work when a large glob of flour water paste landed on my face. I tried to wipe the gloppy mess off and it got tangled in my whiskers. It covered my paws and I couldn’t flick it off. I walked away hoping to be able to wash it off in the sink. I looked back and I realized that I was leaving little white foot prints everywhere that I went. I screamed, frustrated to be covered in this gloppy mess. Erin was having all the teens clean up the mess, when she heard me making my lament. She took me and washed the goo out of my fur as best as she could. Days later the mold spore blimp was taking further shape. Terry had tied it to a trash can, and Erin, Terry and Alice spray painted it gold. Terry and Alice both agreed that it looked like a golden nugget. Too bad we couldn’t cash it in for a new library. They all started calling it the Golden Globe Award. Everyone on the float is to be dressed like different countries, showing that the whole world is celebrating Valley’s Fall Festival. I’m really hoping we win a prize. The group did last year so the chances are pretty good that we’ll win again. Erin said this year’s float is cooler than last years. Let’s cross our fingers and hope for the best. I’ll keep you updated on our prize status! Until next week…

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I Can't Feel My Tail... Call 911

Of all the places in the world, one would never guess that a life altering injury would occur at your public library. Now, I’ve taken a tumble or two off of the tables or book shelves but until today nothing like this has ever happened. This day is one what will forever be ingrained in my memory. I was being a perfect angel, sitting behind the circulation desk assisting Terry, Erin, Josh and Corbin with library business. Everything was flowing nicely, books were coming in and out; computers were being used and my favorite patrons had already made their stops in to see me. I was listening in on a website update conversation when… OOOOOOUUUUUUCCCCCCHHHHHH…a giant (who shall remain nameless… *cough* Corbin) viciously crimped, mangled, and obliterated the tip of my tail. I screeched and the monster *cough* Corbin, had no idea what he had done! I spun around and started to deface his foot and leg with my outstretched claws. Slowly he came to his senses and looked down. It felt like a millennium before he finally lifted his foot off my now dying tail. I sprinted to the back, searching for a place to cower and lick my wounds. Try as I might, no amount of flicking my tail would bring life back into the tip. I screamed and hollered and wailed.  Erin came back to find me and I curled up and balled in her arms. Erin looked over my tail and as she massaged the dying piece, a miracle happened and my tail started to twitch. The feeling slowly crept back into my tail and the crisis was averted.  When I had finally calmed down, Erin carried me out to show everyone that I was still living. The monster *cough* Corbin, felt sorry for the part that he played in atomic bombing my poor defenseless tail. He gave me a treat, and the final bits of pain slowly slipped away.  

Almost losing my tail made me realize that I couldn’t give up all my spying skills. The ability to spin out of any dangerous situation, to identify the enemy before they attack and having the knowledge needed to defeat them before they attack me, were all skills that I deemed necessary to continue improving on for my safety while living in the library.  While I no longer hold an ill will towards the monster *cough* Corbin (karma made him run into a cart), I still feel the need to be ready and waiting for the next opportunity when my special skills are called upon. As the saying goes: failure to prepare is preparing to fail.

10 Minutes Later

Strange things have been happening since the tail smashing. I’ve discovered that the tail tip has started twitching whenever danger is approaching. I’m seriously contemplating becoming a super hero. This freak accident may have just been an excellent new addition to my cornucopia of skills. Wait a second….. My Kitty Senses are Tingling….. I’m off to save the world.

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Now is the Time-- To Remember

Winter has warmed, Spring has sprung, Summer has sizzled, and now the cool breath of Autumn falls upon us. I awoke to a surprise Sunday; the air had a slight bite to it. The scorching heat of summer was now falling victim to the cool breeze of fall. Of all the seasons, Autumn is my favorite. There is something entrancing about Autumn. Walking down a path surrounded by trees, watching as lifeless pieces of art glide softly down to earth; closing your eyes and listening to the wind dance through the leaves; lying on a blanket gazing skyward, watching the beam from your flashlight slowly disappear into the stars. Many people believe that Spring brings new life. I say that’s Autumn’s job. Without death there can be no life; one gives, so another can live. The flowers slowly wither, the dark of night starts seeping into the light, and the cool touch of the clouds prepares us for cooler days. Cooler days remind me of holidays; holidays always remind me of those who I care about. Holidays make me thankful; thankful to have found a home; thankful to have people who care about me; thankful to be safe.

Last week Erin set up a display about September 11^th 2001. She had hung up two shirts: one in memory of the police officers who died that day, and one from the fire station across the street from the twin Tower, who lost a whole ladder company that day. There were fire boots, and a police hat, a doll and some pictures. Below each picture was a number: 49-Lost on United Flight 93; 125-LOST at the Pentagon; 23- NYPD LOST; 343- FDNY LOST; 2,985- total lives LOST. I didn’t understand what all these numbers and pictures meant. I flipped through the books that she had set out along with the display. Terrorists had flown two planes into the Twin Towers, a third into the Pentagon. A forth missed its intended target, The White House and Congress, and crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. I couldn’t understand why anyone would want to hurt America, hurt the American people… hurt my family. I wasn’t here when 9/11 happened. But my family was; as were many of my library patrons. Erin’s final touch to the display was a sign that asked one question: “Where were you?” For many who were alive that day, they can tell you exactly where they were. They can tell you where they were when each plane hit. They can tell you where they were when the towers came crashing down. They can tell you where they were. “Where were you?” It makes you stop and remember. Remember-- those who were innocent and died because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Remember--those who risked their lives to save others. Remember--those who are still hurting.

On September 11, 2011, I want you to remember. Remember--those you love. Remember--those who are lost. Remember--those who fight to keep America safe. Remember--what America is and all the lives that have been lost to make her what she is today. Remember!

What will you do to remember?

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