Free books!

Tonight I went to the library.

Just walking through one aisle, I saw books I'd used for presentations/reports, books I heard about on TV and read, books I'd discussed... 

It was like walking through old friends. 
Old friends who are always there for you. 
Old friends that smell like books.

One reason I love the library is that it's always been important to my life.  In my family, as soon as you could sign your library card, you could have your own.  It was a big deal at age 4/5. :-)


The librarians were wonderful!  My favorite librarian, Miss Linda always knew what I liked and spent time with me to suggest new books and taught me to make origami - which inspired me to read all of their kids origami books.

But Dewey is the kicker.
I absolutely love The Dewey Decimal System, there is something so comforting about knowing that books about coffee are always in the 641.1 section

Tonight I checked out most of the 385 section, a book on time management and one of decluttering your life.  M.M. You will truly understand the way these come together in my life (once you Google what the heck is in the 385s).

Every time I go to the library I use the same method.  I start in new non-fiction to find which areas look interesting.  If I pick up a book from the 745.1s I visit that area next. 
It's the easiest way to browse all of Dewey in a few minutes. 
The only section I always browse is biographies.  I can't get enough of true life stories. 



What is your favorite section?  Your favorite library memory?

Cigarettes Are Not Candy

So awhile back I posted some goals for fall.

One of these is to write a letter to the President.  At the time I didn't know what the letter would be about.  I felt I should write to him because I campaigned for him, voted for him and overall think he's doing a good job.  This week however, I learned of a bill he signed which may become the topic of my letter.

It is a bill signed in June to discourage underage smoking. Link to CNN. 

I do believe kids should be discouraged from beginning a gross and deadly addiction.

Among other things, such as larger health warnings and lowered nicotine content, the bill bans flavored cigars and cigarettes.  This includes "grape, peach, strawberry, vanilla, honey, clove..."  

Wait cloves?! 

Back to that in a second.

As a teen I tried smoking.  Most of you already know that or won't be that shocked to find out. 

Never once as a kid did I buy, bum or try flavored cigarettes.  I stuck with Camel lights, non menthol. 

And no it wasn't because of the adorable camel on the package - Joe Cool RIP - or the minty taste as we've covered.  I liked 'grown up cigarettes'.

I don't smoke now due to the health risks (namely, I don't want to die) but cloves were my treat of choice, once I became an adult and only occasionally.  At $7 per pack what kids are smoking them??

So my feelings on the matter are that

*the government should back the heck off.  It's none of their business anyway.

*they are targeting the wrong group, as illustrated by my experiences

*Obama is a former smoker himself, he should support this as a personal choice and none of the govenments business.

It's interesting to note Phillip Morris and other cigarette companies are backing this bill.  Lower the nicotine, you might sell more cigarettes.  Plus all the flavored smokers will be looking for a new fix... 

Maybe there is no connection but it seems a little fishy.

What do you think?  Do you disagree with my view? 

I lied.

I lied. 

I didn't scream too much at a concert, I don't have allergies and this isn't just "seasonal". 

I have a cold.

The reason for the lie is threefold.

1. I hate being sick. 
I realize most people dislike it but I downright HATE being sick.  There is no time for this 'resting' junk, there is work to be done!  The only time I've ever called off work I had pneumonia.  Pneumonia.

2. I work with food. 
I am very careful to wash my hands like a surgeon - using the up to the elbows method and holding my arms upright like they do on TV.  I sanitize and try to never touch my face etc.  Personally, I hate being waited on by a sneezing, coughing, waitress.  I wouldn't mind a bluff or two about allergies (as long as she carefully washed her hands etc too).  If it helps you eat in peace, all the better.  You should also know I don't think I'm contagious.  If I were actually radiating say swine flu, I would stay home, don't worry!

3. I'm working to "think myself better". 
If you believe you are well you are well. *ACHOO*. 

In the mean time I'm ODing on vitamin C and echinacea.  The other day I took 4000% of vitamin C.

Yours in health,

-Citrus

Games of Pain

Tonight I was watching "How I Met Your Mother, the Slap Bet episode (- best ever!) and was struck (no pun intended) by the number of childhood games that inflict pain.

Slap Bet, Punch Buggy/Slug Bug, Bloody Knuckles, The Circle Game and my childhood favorite Jungle.  For Jungle, kids would line up in a long row, arms flailing and slapping and the victim would walk through to the other side.  Yes it was a game.  Yes that was the whole point.  No I wasn't the only victim! :)  Did you play any others?

I'm starting to think Slap Bet could discourage gambling problems later in life.  See that guy with all the bruises?  Don't bet on him!

Scene kids and trendy times

Photo credit

Tonight I took my little sister to a 'scene' concert.  So many of the kids* (*I was one of the oldest people there) looked alike.  Above is a picture of a kid who could have been there.  
Actually I'm not entirely sure that kid wasn't there... 

There were many girls? with skinny jeans, straightened hair, earrings and bracelets who turned out to be boys!
The -real- girls were so primped they looked like uncomfortable dolls who'd lost their hairbrushes.

I wonder what they will think when they are in their 20s or 30s and look back on these days. 
I remember 90s fashions and laugh at the trends we followed. 
Here are several I bought into

• Denim Jackets.  Once all the rage, then shunned, now back in fashion.  One of my sister's fiends just inherited mine.  Just goes to show you if you wait long enough, all the fads come back.  My uncle has sported the same 'style' for over 50 years.  Every 5 years or so he's back in fashion!
  
• Pacifiers.  Even my Barbie had one!  
• Mood Rings.  I realize this dates back way before the 90s but they made a pretty strong come back in my day.  Oh shoot, I've already had the "back in my day" days!
• Giant hair Scrunches, on your wrist, even if your hair was short.
  
• Overalls.  Extra points for one strap left hanging.  Extra extra points for a hammer loop.
• Smiley face everything.  This reminds me of the current trend of peace signs.  M.M. needs a shirt that says "I liked peace before it was cool".
  

Looking at this list all together and recalling the outfits that went with them I'm wondering why I was allowed out of the house!  The bright side being that everyone else dressed that way too!

What fads/trends do you remember from childhood?

Things that thrill me this week

First off, I would like to welcome our new readers! M.M. and I (Citrus), are THRILLED to be featured in the link section of www.galadarling.com, one of our favorite blogs. Any of our readers who haven't visited, be sure to check her out, your life will never be the same.

Things that thrill me this week

• My fabulous new job working on the scenic railroad train! Anyone who knows me will tell you, I love work. Good. Hard. Work. is like oxygen to me. The train is made of hard work, laughter and coffee. Everything I thrive on. Working a 12 hour day there is just heaven. Most of the train workers are volunteers, which means you work with people who love their jobs so much they do it for free. The passengers feel like they are taking a mini-vacation and everyone is in good spirits. Did I mention I love it?

• Receiving a surprise check from my grandma <3,>

• Finally committing to getting my tattoo! Tattoo, pictures and story coming soon. As M.M. knows this is something I've talked about for years and the time is finally right. I've had of a photo of the design on my wall for ages and now I can't wait any longer to see it all the time!

• Figuring out (very last minute) what I REALLY want to give M.M. for her birthday. Her birthday list every year: world peace and a horse. Story of what it was as soon as she receives it. Hint: It's hard to mail horses, or world peace :)
• 
  

Thanks for reading, expect miracles!

-Citrus

Hurray for Autumn

Autumn, just that word gives me the warm-fuzzies. So much to look forward to.


Top Ten Favorite Fall Things:

The County Fair
hot donuts, samples and giveaways, carnival rides, carnival people, The Ferris wheel after dark, giant vegetable contests, tractor pulls..


Soup
being amazing again, especially slow roasted stews


Bonfires
that last all night leading to sunrise watching, so what if I’ve only made it to sunrise a few times


Corn Mazes
when I was in my younger teens two friends of mine got lost in one for hours. This year someone finally explained to me they planned to leave for hours… Ooh


The Seasonal Fresh Fruit/Vegetable Treats
Pumpkin everything, Apple picking, end of season corn


NFL
time begins! Go Steelers!


That smell
in the air of everything fantastic and crisp


Blankets
being amazing again, combined with Hot Cider it’s the ultimate


Candy Corn
I love the way it makes your brain ache and your spit unnaturally viscous


Giant Crunchy Leaves
in brilliant colors and the patterns they make as they fall.