Thought for the Day...

Consider what a great girl you are. Consider what a long way you've come today. Consider what o'clock it is. Consider anything, only don't cry.
-Through the Looking Glass

Back-to-School Giveaway!

In celebration of back-to-schoolness, I'm throwing in some fun school supplies {maybe even a bouquet of sharpened pencils} along with the featured book...

Making a Case for Life: A New Definition of Perfection by Stephanie Wincik

Loved this one. It's non-fiction, which isn't my "normal," but it highlights such an important issue.

Just enter a comment, and I'll randomize the winner on Tuesday!

Starting and Finishing

Heard in our house...

Me: What do you want to watch tonight--Heroes or Stargate? {The two DVDs we have from Blockbuster right now.}

Jason: Well...we're almost finished with Heroes, and that's the end of the series. Whereas we still have several seasons of Stargate to watch. {And, yeah, he uses "whereas" in everyday conversation.}

Me: So...Heroes! {simultaneously} Jason: So...Stargate!

This is so typical of our personality differences. To sum up, I like to finish things, and he likes to start {and delay finishing} things.

This has also been really apparent as we're both getting ready to start another round of school.

I've been nervous, can't quite get things together, just haven't been able to be super excited yet. But I know as I start {and get further into the semester} I'll hit my stride.

Jason, on the other hand, has been so pumped and ready to go--full of plans, ideas, thoughts. But now that classes have started, and he's had to be more organized about when to do assignments, what to do for readings, papers, etc...the excitement has faded {just a bit...he still loves school}.

I wonder if Fred prefers to start or finish...

What about you?

Mini-Reviews, Weeding Libraries and a Really Long Post

I know you've been on the edge of your seat to hear what I finished reading. Well, I played a lot of Sudoku... ;)

...and FINALLY got around to finishing Water for Elephants and Whose Body. {And I'm almost done with Eclipse and Just Let Me Lie Down...but we'll save the guilty pleasure reading for another day.}

How about mini reviews?


Water for Elephants was about an old man looking back on his years in the circus.
I'm never sure how I feel about foreshadowing, and this one started by giving away a piece of the climactic scene, so you kind of knew what was coming. Also, the chapters alternate between his time in the nursing home and his younger years traveling as a vet on a circus, so I sometimes felt as if I knew the end already--even though Sara Gruen saves a few surprises for the very end.

Also, it was more graphic than I expected, and I was really really troubled by the violence toward animals (and people...but it rips my heart out to see animals abused). It made me wonder how much of that was true of the times and how much still goes on today.

Overall, though, good book.

Meanwhile, Whose Body is the first in the Lord Peter Wimsey series written by Dorothy Sayers, and I. loved. it. It reminds me of Jeeves & Wooster: Mystery Edition (and if you haven't watched Jeeves & Wooster, go rent it. From a library!) After reading The Nine Tailors last month and now this one, I can't wait to read the rest. British WWI-era mystery at its best.

As far as Eclipse, well, I couldn't do the review any better than Jen Lancaster. Brilliant!


Catching up on links...


Library budget woes have now hit the DFW area. Dallas Public Libraries are scaling back their hours and cutting staff. Here in the Cowtown Public Libraries, LJ reports that three branches will close, but I saw in the local paper this morning that they're going to be able to stay open three days a week thanks to a private foundation.


Now I don't deny that it's troubling--even tragic--when libraries close. However, can it sometimes be OK? If, for whatever reason, a branch (and I'm not talking about those above...just theoretically) isn't really serving the community any longer, is it really worth it to keep it open no matter the cost?


As librarians, we sometimes have to weed books, right? That's always a painful thing for me, but sometimes it's necessary. Do we need to weed libraries, too? Haven't fully thought this one through; just wanted to put the question out there.


And now for something completely different...a cool LibGuide about electronic resources.


And kids these days and their plagiarism...


That's it for now, fellow readers. I'll post a giveaway later this week to celebrate the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!

Follow Friday

Thought it was time for another shout-out to fellow bloggers. There are three new discoveries I wanted to pass along...

Elizabeth...
I worked with Elizabeth's mom in Tuscaloosa, and now I'm following her adventures as a newlywed in England. She is a fantastic photographer and will make you laugh to boot!
Also...she's hosting a fun giveaway. Check it out here!

Caroline...
Caroline and I were friends in college, and, even though she's new to blogging, I'm so impressed with her writing and thoughtfulness. (I'm sure it's all due to that English class we took a million years ago.) ;)

Loving Real Food...
"Lakeviewer" and I met via mutual blog friends, and I think she is who I want to be when I grow up. She has a couple of blogs, but this one reminds me to be thoughtful about what I eat and encourages me to keep growing. (Figuratively, not literally...especially if you eat the way she describes.)

Happy weekend, everyone!

Six States in Five Days...in Status Updates

We went on vacation last week. Vacation, for us, mostly means driving from one family member's house to another and frantically trying to get back home in time to rest for a day before heading back to work. But it was still nice to have a break and see everyone. :)

I also took a bit of an e-break while we were gone, leaving off blogging {obviously} as well as Twitter and Facebook, which have become just about as addictive as coffee for me.

I'm glad to be back, but it was a nice mind-clearing few days, too. I realized that I've started to think in status updates, and I kind of missed letting the world in on what I was thinking. ha

So I kept up with our trip in my little iPod notepad, and here it is for you...in statuses {and a few tweets} and with pictures to boot...

Day One:

Tiffany...

...likes being a regular at Einstein Bros.

...saw a camel. Did so. Did so. Did so. {This might have been a point of contention between Jason and me.}

...thinks Fred should take a turn driving. Especially if he's going to stand on my shoulder while I drive.

...was greeted by a storm in Jackson...

...was WOWED by the stadium expansion...and all the places I wanted to eat in Tuscaloosa.

Day Two:

Tiffany...

...can't remember the last time I blow-dried my hair. This is sort of like a vacation from not fixing it.

...did not get coffee until two and a half hours after I woke up. I am not nearly as nice a person as I think I am. It's all coffee.

...spent the day touring the nicest Wal-Mart I've ever seen, playing the Wii with the in-laws, getting a guitar(!) and picking blueberries off the vine. Nice.

...was sad to realize that, with my mom, aunt and grandmother gone, I was the only girl at the dinner table.

...thinks I am a country girl at heart...except for maybe when it gets so freakin' DARK.

Day Three:

Tiffany...

...saw a high school acquaintance at dinner. Spent the entire evening trying to remember her name. Not sure what I ate, but I finally remembered Rachel!
...bought a Laffy Taffy at Walgreens, where the cashier then read the jokes on the back to me. It was kinda odd...but kinda nice.

Day Four:

This world is not my home.

...had fun watching the famous Spring Park water and light show but left with 15 new mosquito bites. Even Fred got one.

Day Five:

Home: the most complicated word in the English language.

Is there any breakfast better than chocolate gravy and biscuits?

...enjoyed watching my step-siblings get ready for the first day of school. Wish I felt the excitement I always did at their age, but now, with classes approaching, there is just a paralyzing FEAR!!!

...thinks there are profound truths in Billy Joel music.

...doesn't understand why I like the south route so much better than the north route. Arkansas has become my nemesis.

Good reminder as we pull into Texas: Drive Friendly.

Sometimes You Just Have to Press...

{Blog} Readers' Choice

I'm taking a few days off(!), and, as usual, I have quite the stack of books I'd like to work through. So I thought we'd have a little fun and see which ones you think I'll be able to finish (hint: never as many as I think I will).

I didn't have time (read: was too lazy) to do a proper poll, so just leave your answer in the comments, and you'll get an extra entry in my August giveaway.

Which book(s) will Tiff finish during her time away from the library?

• Auntie Mame
• Just Let Me Lie Down
• The Kabalyon Key
• Water for Elephants
• Whose Body?
• All of the above (for you optimists)
• None of the above...she'll just play Sudoku and drink coffee all day

Rockwall Weekend

I feel as if my posts lately have been alternating between heavy and silly. I don't know why. Such is life, I guess. :)

Anyway, we hung out in lovely Rockwall this weekend with my pal, Shelley (who is now blogging here).

Great friends, meeting a new Half-Price Books and discovering MORE SHAVED ICE.

Downtown Rockwall is super-cool. It's quite small, but they have three places to buy delicious baked goods and malts and other such things. (And they have an old-fashioned barbershop.)

Bahama Buck's has lots of fun colors to photograph and is a yummy, yummy place...

How was your weekend?