Sick of being sick...

So I've been ill the past couple days... Made it back to work today but it's always difficult for me: both taking sick days and coming back. Not because I'm not sure whether I'm sick or that after being sick I don't want to go back to work. I like my job. I like going to work. (I don't know any librarian that doesn't, of course.) But when I start feeling under the weather, I'm never sure of the exact moment when I'm too ill to work. I could probably work through almost anything, and, I hate to admit it, I have. On this end of the problem, I have slowly come to the realization that I'm more valuable at home than at work if I'm at all contagious... duh.

On the other side, nearing the end of the period of unwellness, I'm again regularly unsure when it's appropriate to come back to work. I'm caught between wanting to get back to work for both work's sake (don't want to seem like I'm goofing off) and my own sake (again, I like getting things done at work), and not wanting to get back to work too soon again for work's sake (for fear of still being contagious and infecting those at work) and my own (not wanting to push myself too far and keep myself sick longer).

I almost wish there were nice simple guidelines. Basic rules to tell me when I'm sick and what I should do about it. Any suggestions or guidelines any of you use?

The Golden Mean is too cruel.

I really like design: graphics, Photoshop, colours, photography, creating brochures, laying out web pages... that kind of thing. I'm no artist, I don't think; although I am not afraid to quickly sketch out an idea I have, suggesting broad ideas of layout and weights, I can't draw a horse to save my ass (even if I had a donkey of any kind). And my faces are quite scary... interesting, I think, but not realistic.

I keep the possibility of getting a degree or even just taking a course in graphic design, but what I need specifically, is not the physical ability to draw (don't need it), or the knowledge of the tools (already got it or can get it myself), or even the intuition of what works and what does (I think I`ve got that)... What I need is the theory, the tips, the tricks, the ratios of space to negative space, the guidelines as to how to use colour to achieve a certain effect. I`ve looked around for top-ten lists and tutorials for this kind of information and I occasionally find tidbits of such here and there, but there does not seem to be a nice practical compilation of such. (Tell me if I`ve missed a gem out there.) Perhaps contact with a professional in an educational setting would provide that, or even just the community of those interested enough to develop their skills in this area would help me find such recommended practices.

Dogbert is so wise.

Movin' on up...

A couple events in the past few days have made me feel excited for the future.

As I've probably mentioned before, I'm the chair of my kids' school's Parent Advisory Council. I haven't been chair for very long and this is the first position like this I've had outside of the world of librarianship so I got off to a rather slow start: merely arranging for meetings, creating agendas, piping in with suggestions and questions when appropriate. But not knowing the community or the school or the processes as much as the others, I felt a little cautious about proposing things and directing them in any way. But as I've learned more and listened more, I feel more confident in a leadership role. I love coming up with ideas and ways to see them through. In the past couple meetings, I've started us down the path of improving communication to the parents and just recently started a wiki to act as the school council's web site.

And just today, I got a call from Hamilton Public Library that they would like to interview me for the position of Branch Manager. I just had a phone interview yesterday and apparently they were sufficiently impressed that they want me to continue on down the process. I've loved working as a health sciences librarian in the position I have now, but it's always been a temporary position and it's coming to an end soon so I have to move on. I worked as a public librarian and supervisor before so I know I would do well and have a great time back there so I crossing my fingers on this one. I've applied to a whole bunch of positions in a wide variety of places and fields and levels but this one would be uber leet. LOL

Everything's coming up Milhouse! Good times FTW!

Double the fun...

Since getting my laptop, I've discovered that I NEED two computers at all times. I've taken to using it in my office, on a table next my desktop. I do most of my work on my laptop, initially just to give myself an excuse to get used to the slightly different OS and apps, a different feeling keyboard, etc. but now it's mostly because that's where my "stuff" is. LOL But I'm always going back to my desktop for the odd thing: printing something off quickly (not easy on my laptop yet), getting a file off it that I haven't moved over yet, or to use some app I can't install elsewhere. When it's my shift on the reference desk, I bring it out there to continue whatever it is that I'm working on, seamlessly, and to be able to save where and how I want. I'm convinced (or convincing myself) that it's more productive this way (it really is but of course there's a whole heap of security blanket piled on there too).

Now I come home and occasionally my wife leaves our desktop defenseless and I sit down beside it and I play episodes of Battlestar Galactica or play some Daft Punk tracks that I've left on there... It's my extra-media processor, providing white noise (entertaining white noise) in the background of my blogging, searching, WoWing or random goofing off. I could have my laptop doing it but for some reason it's not as multi-tasky.

Maybe I'll have to get a second computer of my own...

Maybe I'll have to find a support group for this...

Ideas are the enemy...

Although this is horrifying (in a very humourous way), it's also pretty true (except for maybe the death threat part). We don't like hearing the truth when it endangers our own self-worth. Let's just hope that the person who discovers the cure for cancer doesn't first show it to someone who would be put out of a job by it. Or worse yet, would end up doing more work because of it. *crossing my fingers*

Recent interview and public speaking...

Just had an interview on Friday for the position of "Reference and Government Information Librarian" at the local public library. Although I've gotten used to being an academic librarian for the past few years, the job description (responsible for the government documents, electronic resources as well as the reference collection) sounds like something that I would do well at and really enjoy as well, as well as being a lot of work (which I don't mind of course). They said that it shouldn't be too long until they make their decision, so I'm waiting on the edge of my seat for them to contact me. I'm still applying for others whatever the case but it would great if I got this one.

How come it's exactly those events that you want to happen inspire in me a reaction that makes it even more difficult for it to come to pass? The more you want the job, the more nervous you are during the interview, and therefore the less "perfect" they see your effort at impressing them. I can speak in front of a class full of total strangers including professors, doctors, whatever, and have no problem, but the second I have to speak to a small group of people about how awesome I am at whatever, I feel the god (or demon rather) of chickening out descend on my little head.

Anyway, I feel good about this one. Wish me luck!

Being the only one...

A few days ago, a colleague of mine remarked on how, being Jewish in an environment of mostly non-Jewish people she is usually called on to be the expert on her "people", how it really sets her apart, and how odd and sometimes uncomfortable that is.

Of course (being the completely self-centered person I am) I immediately tried to think about how this concept can be turned around and applied to me! LOL I'm not Jewish so that's out. In fact I'm not religious at all (I'm interested IN religion but am not a believer per se) and most people are if only just a little, but I don't think that really works either. But I am a male in a primarily female field (librarianship, for those of you not paying attention) and to some degree I can see how she feels. I take great care to communicate my non-stereotypically-male characteristics: I don't like sports, I don't drink (beer or otherwise), I'm a total spice-wuss, I'm not totally colur-blind, etc. but I still feel occasionally that I'm slotted into the "oh, he's just a guy" category. It's not vindictive and sometimes I play it up just to get a laugh. But there is slight pressure there to be the example guy in the room (there is one other male in the library out of 20 staff in total, so it's not all on me... lol) and a bit of barrier that I work at keeping down.

Or perhaps I don't know how she feels. I am not often specifically called on to be the expert on the male perspective and perhaps this feeling that I am an example is all of my own making. There are plenty of us guys around to examine and interogate so it's not like I'm a new concept to be explored or an issue to be tip-toed around. I can imagine this is probably how some "minorities" feel - like a specimen or a land mine depending on the level of comfort the people around them have - when all they want to be treated like is a regular Joe... er, Joan.

I don't know how I would feel in that situation. I like to point out and push out my differences (and eccentricities sometimes) but to have your difference(s) defined and thrust upon you might become tiresome and restrictive. We all want to belong somehow and to constantly be held at arms length for some stupid, superficial reason would be difficult to handle.

A healthy organization...

Ok, now I have another book to add to my list of things to read thanks to this entry from "Information Wants to be Free": How healthy is your organization?. Meredith talks about a book that really seems to touch on a subject "near and dear to my heart". She's reading the book, First, Break All the Rules and provides a list of 12 criteria of a healthy comfortable and happy workplace for employees:

1. Do I know what is expected of me at work?
2. Do I have the materials and equipment I need to do my work right?
3. At work, do I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day?
4. In the last seven days, have I received recognition or praise for good work?
5. Does my supervisor, or someone at work, seem to care about me as a person?
6. Is there someone at work who encourages my development?
7. At work, do my opinions seem to count?
8. Does the mission/purpose of my company make me feel like my work is important?
9. Are my co-workers committed to doing quality work?
10. Do I have a best friend at work?
11. In the last six months, have I talked with someone about my progress?
12. At work, have I had the opportunities to learn and grow?

I am currently working in an environment that pretty much covers each of the 12 points listed, at least as far as I want it too. (Numbers 4 and 10 are a pushing it a little: I don't know if I regularly do something particularly praise-worthy EVERY week, and I don't really need a BEST friend at work when a bunch of good friends will do... lol) And comparing it to previous environments I've been in, this is absolutely heaven. When you have the tools, the support and the team to get this done right, you can't help but want to do the best you can.

Dilbert's boss strikes again...

It's funny what occurs to you when you take the time to just sit and think. I wonder if it's Secretary's Day.

Blogging made easy...

So, I was sitting in my office at work thinking, "I wish I had a way to make blog entries quickly from other pages" -- online newspaper articles, other bloggers entries, cool sites, etc. -- and, as a lark, I typed in "blog this" into Google (in the vein of bookmark this and digg this, etc.). Lo and behold, the first link is to Blogger Help : What is BlogThis! ?. Problem solved. Way to go me! (With a little help from Google and Blogger, of course.) So, I just made this entry with the "BlogThis!" link. QED.

EOSET, babies, and a new job...

Presentations are over! I talked about library resources that can be used in the classroom last week at EOSET 2007. It was at RMC which was cool. Never been over there before. Nice old buildings. Probably older than some of the older buildings on the Queen's campus. Very impressive talk by Major Workman on teaching, technology, policy, and the future. Very inspiring and refreshing, and of course, candid. It is the military you know!

Also a great description of a new automated assignment/testing system for some professor of math... can't remember his name right now. (Check on the EOSET program, you'll find it.) Anyway, it was about this system that randomizes rather complex math problems so that students can take "quizzes" with as many questions as they'd like, as many times as they'd like. It actually turned out that students were doing like ten times as much work and loving it! Pretty cool.

And in other news, my coworker is having twins. Don't know whether they are boys or girls or what, or identical or not, but that's pretty cool. Actually, it's really old news but I haven't mentioned on here yet so it's news to you! And my sister-in-law is apparently pregnant. Babies everywhere!

Still looking for another job for when this temporary contract runs out. I spent a lot of time today working on my resume and cover letter for the one I'd like the most (gotta apply soon) (Update: Just noticed the page this links to is gone.  I believe it was related to supporting the continuing teacher education program at Queen's U.) and I've got to work on applying to a bunch of others as well. Wish me luck. Again. Oh boy.

Inquiries...

Today, I attended the second and last day of the Cross-Faculty Teaching Forum conference that I presented at yesterday. (Check out my abstract in the list: A3 on this list) Informative, inspiring and interesting. And it brought me into Goodes Hall, a very nicely reworked building that I've never been in on campus. (I'll put my materials up here somewhere when I get a chance...)

And I may have helped save 400 lives yesterday... Just a regular day in the life of a reference librarian. But seriously, it's possible. When I came to relieve my colleague at the desk, she had just received a request to look up a non-profit foundation based in Ontario, working in Columbia, by the name of "Child & Youth of the Future". I took over and scoured all the foundation-related directories that we have, plus called over to Stauffer (the humanities library) to get them to do the same. Nothing. I also checked the Canada Revenue Agency website which has a searchable database of charities registered with them, which this foundation would probably have to be. Not the easiest search function I've ever used, but nothing there either. Calling back, I told the info-requester that I had found nothing in the main resources that such an institution should be in if it existed, so, it's unlikely that it did. He told me about the offer a group going by this name and description gave to 400 students in Columbia: free university education. Very elaborately set up: recruiting local trusted figures to help pass on the message, tours, t-shirts, some free cellphones, etc. Before they were taken away to a university where they were to stay the night, something interfered, and some sort of police involvement developed. Nothing very clear, I don't know how the person contacting us was involved, or whether any of this ever really happened, but scary nonetheless. But apparently a tragic ending avoided. And I helped. Whew.

Far from hardly working...

OMG. I am a mass of aching flesh and fatigue. Not only have I been riding my bike back and forth to work everyday, but today I also rode over to RMC today to check out their library and test my proxy access for the conference I'm presenting at soon: EOSET 2007. Woot!

And to top it all off, I insanely cut the lawn yesterday after work (it needed it... neighbourhood children were missing) and I transplanted, about a billion day lilies. Ok, it wasn't a billion and it was only a few feet away but they grow in one solid mass of bulbs (I first spelled it "blubs" and really considered leaving it that way) and go pretty deep, though not as deep as I feared, so thank you Day Lily God (or Goddess, probably). I put them all under this evergreen we have in the back yard, as they're the only things insane enough to grow under there. And it gives me more room to plant some REAL plants: tomatoes, carrots, onions maybe... Which will be even more work outside... What do I have, a death wish?!? LOL I don't even like the outdoors all that much. Gawd.

Hey, I can't remember whether I mentioned that I submitted an article to the Queen's Gazette a while ago. I'm trying to publish as much as I can, and it also fulfilled my final requirement for my Focus on Foundations teaching certificate. Sweet. Two-fer.

Still looking for work...

Although it seems pretty far off still, September, for me, is looming large. That's when my non-renewable contract at my present place of employment runs out. I've been constantly looking for something more permanent, or at least something to give me a little more time, but still no luck. Fortunately there're three new possibilities coming up right here so hopefully I'll have better luck, especially since I've got some new ideas and strategies to help me better market myself. Although I am sometimes a little too full of myself, I tend not to be so in interviews. But I've got to toot my own horn more, as well as be prepared with lists of notes to toot.

Work and not work...

This image from flickr is an excellent graphic to go along with today's post. (Update 20110628: Had to relink to the image since it disappeared. This one is by Paul Stamatiou.  The original was by Rsibaja. Backup is here.) I've spent several days over the past week or so rethinking and redesigning my blog. I'm still not perfectly happy with it (can you ever be) but I think I've got it to a point where I can let it be for a while. I've still got to create a forwarding page from the old url to here but that shouldn't take much time.

In other news... I've been going for family walks a little bit more recently. I was helping my 6yo daughter ride her bike and after a few trips up and down the sidewalk I felt like I was going to die... I think that's a hint from my body telling me that I should get a little more exercise. LOL

Work's good. It's getting closer and closer to the end of my temporary contract at Bracken so I'm getting a little anxious, looking and preparing for any job openings at Queen's U or in Kingston (or near enough anyway). Now that my colleague across the hall has officially announced that she's going on maternity leave in October, I feel a little less panicked, but I certainly don't want to just assume that that will be enough: I will still be looking and preparing in any case.

I've been using the "Remember the Milk" site to record my to do list and I've put several presentations I'd like to give at some upcoming conferences and events. Hopefully I'll be able to submit them, get accepted and complete them all... Speaking of which, I'd better get doing some of them and stop procrastinating. I've got to make dinner for the family first.

(Oh yeah, I've also taken some nice screenshots of some things in World of Warcraft. I'll put them in flickr and then maybe post one of two of them here. Along with a screenshot of my "completed" new design. For historical purposes.)