Larocque and Roll

I’m not internationally known, but I’m known throughout the microphone February 10, 2008

Last week, it was my distinct pleasure to spend it in Toronto surrounded by friends, colleagues, and other fellow librarians. There were lots of interesting sessions, and tons of things to do when you weren’t in session. My week went something like this:

Tuesday:
Up at 4:30am to catch the bus to TO. Normally, I’d take the train, but the train doesn’t get there until 7pm, IF it runs on time. Getting up at an ungodly hour to take the bus means I get into the city by early afternoon, leaving me enough time to do some sightseeing and shopping. Which I did - I walked up Spadina to Queen West, and hit Americo Yarns. Then I wandered into Kensington Market, went to Lettuce Knit for yarn and help [1]. I also found a cool artist’s market, and bought a print for in my living room [3]. Caught the subway back to the hotel, ditched my purchases, and set off to Jorge’s. I finally got to meet Mrs. Jorge and Olivia, both of whom are adorable. Quite possibly the funniest line of the evening was when Jorge described Olivia’s reaction to the vacuum cleaner: “She went all Leonidas on it.”

Wednesday:
An all-day pre-conference session. More people than had signed up were there, so we were pretty packed in. There were a few people I knew from other meetings, Facebook (Hi Joanna!), or through other friends (Hey Debra!) Met some new friends for drinks and dessert, and then hit the opening reception to find Karen and Steve [4]. Also ran into a couple of librarians from up this way (Hi Leslie, Shelly and Rebecca!) and Jennifer, who was making the big move to Montreal and wouldn’t be convening my session [5].

Thursday:
First official day of the conference! We [6] started it by heading out to our traditional conference breakfast spot for our traditional conference breakfast, which consists of waffles/crepes with fruit and chocolate and/or whipped cream. Delightful! Then onto the first session of the day, which was about getting and using user feedback. Then onto the session I was convening on open source software in the developing world, and a stint in the AskOn booth after that [7]. Finally, I met up with a bunch of other librarians to go see a taping of The Hour. I could spend a great deal of time talking about how cool it was; instead, I’ll give you these pics:

Friday:
Seriously, it’s kind of a blur, it was that busy. However, I do remember the most important part of the day - going out for dinner! The same group of usual suspects went to the Mexican restaurant Karen, Steve and I found last year. We were worried that it wouldn’t be as good as we remembered, but that fear was completely unfounded - not only was the food as spectacular as we remembered, this year they had a mariachi band! Afterwards we hit the Indigo flagship store, then headed home.

Saturday:
Checkout! Fortunately, I do it early enough to avoid the crush. Then off to a session, and then to my presentation. There’s not much to tell about it, at least not much that wouldn’t bore most people to tears at this point [8]. Except to say that it went well, and I didn’t make any egregious mistakes. Walked down to meet my mom and sister for lunch, and then headed back home with them - hell, I’d come that far, I might as well take a day or two to visit the folks. Had a great supper, and polished off many bottles of wine with my sister and cousin while playing Settlers of Catan, at least until I started falling asleep at the table and my b-i-l took over for me.

Sunday:
A big family outing to celebrate my dad’s birthday and retirement. The neph was adorable, and flirted with all the waitresses. Then home for more Settlers of Catan, and sitting around watching some football game. Are they still playing at this time of year?

Monday:
Home again, this time by train. Again, slept most of the way.

So, there you have it - my week down in the T-dot. It was fun, and I’m already looking forward to next year.

[1] I started knitting a sock on the bus when I wasn’t sleeping [2]. At some point, a whole lot of stitches fell off the needle and started unraveling. The kind and friendly woman there picked them back up and put them on the needle for me.
[2] Which was most of the time.
[3] Once I get a frame for it.
[4] Or as I started calling them, The Nickel City Posse.
[5] Yeah - I was also presenting at the conference. More on that later.
[6] By “we”, I mean Karen, Steve, Joanne (from TBay) and her sister Cathy who’s also a librarian.
[7] I’m one of the friendly AskOn operators, by the way.
[8] Maybe some other day.

A little bit of this and that March 26, 2007

Lots of things to update, and not much time in which to do it. Between the thunderstorms and the whole “getting ready for work” thing, let’s see what I can tell you about.

~ Last Thursday was the only day of the year where you could legitimately say, “Go Rebecca! It’s your birthday! We’re going to party like it’s your birthday!” and have it be accurate. For those of you keeping score at home, it’s the 31st time this has happened.

~ Most of the time I experiment with cooking, it turns out okay. Occasionally, it turns out badly. And on rare, shining occasions, it turns out better than expected, which was the case with the spinach sauce I made to go on some leftover penne noodles at the beginning of the month.

It’s a carton of baby spinach, tossed into the food processor and chopped until it’s all shredded into tiny little pieces. Then you make a white sauce (two tablespoons butter, two tablespoons flour, one cup of milk; melt the butter, stir in the flour until smooth, and then slowly add the milk in parts) and dump in the spinach. Pour on cooked noodles, stir, and serve. Tasty! And a pretty colour!

~ I’ve been experimenting with knitting multiple projects at the same time. Normally, it’s all I can do to finish one project, yet I’m finding I like having several things on the needles, so I can switch projects when I get bored. One of my recently completed projects is a tea cozy for my little teapot.

My teapot - it is both short and stout. And now it has a sweater!

~ This past weekend was my sister and b-i-l’s annual ball hockey tournament. At first, it looked like this would be the first year the weather wouldn’t co-operate and we’d have to play in the rain. In the end, we played in the mist [1] and the mud, and no one got injured. Also, a good time was had by all. My photos are here.

~ Had I more time, I’d post the playlist I listened to on the drive from here to Guelph and back. It’s dope, yo.

[1] Isn’t that a Sigourney Weaver movie - “Ball Hockey Players in the Mist”?

Seasonally appropriate February 4, 2007

It’s hard to imagine that just two days ago, I was wandering from the MTCC to another building nearby without a jacket, mittens, or scarf without being cold. Now that I’m home in North Bay, and the weather has finally started being seasonally appropriate, I can’t imagine not wearing a hat, scarf, handwarmers and mittens just to walk to my car. Tonight it’s -22 and dropping - so cold that the snow squeaks when you walk on it.

The other seasonally appropriate occurance was the considerable snowfall we had between my leaving Tuesday and my arriving home last night, which was somewhere in the neighbourhood of two or more feet. I had to dig my poor little car out of a considerable snowbank when I got back to the train/bus station. And this was on top of the snow we already had.

So! The conference! I’m sure you’re waiting with baited breath to hear how it went, since I was not so much writing about it while I was there. I’d have to say that this was one of the better OLA conferences I’ve been to in recent years. I went to many excellent sessions, and only walked out of one which was largely irrelevant to my interestes (in addition to being not at all what I hoped it would be.) If I were to list all the people I met and want to extend greetings to, I’d be here until tomorrow - suffice to say, if we talked, I’d just like to say “HI!” and I look forward to emailing/speaking/meeting with you over the next little while.

The biggest problem with these conferences is that I always come away with a million ideas which I’d like to implement (A wiki for the employee manual? Sure! A blog for my department to publicize our recent aquisitions? Very necessary! Genealogy podcasting? Why aren’t we already doing that!) However, I feel like Cinderella - I can work on a plan for these things, but only when I’ve finished the library stats for this month, and the January vacation/overtime logs for the department, and writing the scripts for the virtual library project, and the other hundered or so things that crop up on a daily basis.

I love my job, and the administrivia is just part of the job. I just need to manage my time better. And be more organized.

* * *

The night before I left, I downloaded some iTunes-y goodness to listen to while on the train. Regina Spektor’s “Begin to Hope” got heavy airplay - most noteably, “Fidelity,” “Samson,” and “20 Years of Snow.” And I’m sort of embarrased to admit how many times in a row I listed to Mika’s “Grace Kelly” - it’s just that perky and infectious and fun.

Friday night in the Big Smoke February 2, 2007

Yet another day of running around and doing stuff.

I forgot to mention I met Jen Wednesday night - I don’t think I totally freaked her out, but she did give me a deserved “And you are…?” look at first. Sorry about that. And today Jorge and I met for coffee, and had a lovely chat. Next time, I promise I’ll give you more warning and we’ll hit the pub.

There were other things, but it’s late-ish, I’m tired, and I have to pack. I’ll post tomorrow or later this weekend. How’s that for being vague?

This is how we do it in the T-dot February 1, 2007

I’m sure a whole lot of you now hate me for putting that song back in your head. Just trying singing “Copacabana” which is what’s been stuck in my head all day. Better now?

So, other than the inital panic on Monday, a very late arrival in Toronto on Tuesday night, and then a ride on the wrong subway train followed by a bus ride to the correct station, everything has been coming up roses. It’s been a busy day, and it’s not yet over. My hotel room is far too classy for me, and I felt like such a hick when I arrived. I’m almost over it, but I still feel like any moment, the concierge and a squad of heavily muscled men (and not in the good way) will arrive to evict me.

I’ve attended three sessions and a luncheon meeting, and it’s all been wonderfully interesting. I’m looking forward to the sessions and meetings tomorrow, and hope that the creeping feeling that I’m going to be utterly swamped at work next week will hold off, at least until I get home.

Oh, also? There’s apparently a blizzard going on at home right now. 30cm of snow - lovely!

Come sail away with me January 29, 2007

I am both the best and the worst person to travel with.

I’m the best because if I know where we want to go and have an idea about the schedule, I can make a workable timetable, get maps, check transportation options, and find the best way to get from point A to B. I will look up addresses and phone numbers (just in case), and check up on opening hours so we’re there in plenty of time.

However, should something happen to that schedule - like, say, you find out the hotel booked you for one less night than you requested - I am instantly the worst person to travel with because then I start to stress out about the whole timetable, and become both highly inflexible and petulant. I will pout and whine and moan about this disruption, and how it’s now ruined everything, and how we now must start all over from the beginning.

Throw in finding this wrench in the gears the day before you’re supposed to leave, and I become impossible.

And! Top it off with a day that should have started with crawling back into bed because it did not get any better, and I’m the last person on earth you want to travel with.

So! The gist of this all is that I’m going to Toronto tomorrow for the OLA Superconference, and will be returning Saturday, not Sunday as I had hoped. It’s really not a big deal - I don’t need to go to Romni or Lettuce Knits or Americo or any one of a dozen bookstores. However, I still feel it necessary to sulk for a while before moving on, and fretting about other things, like, say, packing.

Oh boy.

More from Toronto if I get the chance!

Stupid Mind! December 23, 2004

IÂ’m sure that everybody knows how much my body hates me
It lets me down most every time and makes me rash and hasty
- Billy Bragg, Sexuality

Over the past four days, I’ve had a grand total of 9 hours sleep. By last night, I was quite tired and more than a little stressed out. When I went to bed shortly before midnight, I kept thinking how much my body will appreciate a good, solid 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep. It took a while to get to sleep, because every time I’d drift off, I’d think of something else that needed to be done in the morning. Finally, I got up and made a list, and since I didn’t have to try and remember anymore, I dropped right off.

At 5:20am, my Mind woke me up.
“Pssst. Hey!”
“Zzzzzzz… *snort* Wha…?”
“Hey! What about the locks?”
“Huh?”
“The locks!”
“What locks?”
“For the suitcase, duh! Where are they?”
“How the hell should I know? I think they’re on the big suitcase.”
“Well, you should go find them.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t need them. Now shut up and let me get another two hours of sleep, please!”
“What do you mean, you don’t need them? What if someone tries to break into your suitcase?”
“I don’t need them because I’m staying at Chez Larocque. The only person who might possibly want to break into my luggage is Rachelle to look for her Christmas presents.” (Note to Rachelle: Don’t.)
“But where are the locks?”
“Again, I don’t know. Probably on the big suitcase.”
“Fine. Where are the keys for the locks, then?”
“Shit! I don’t know! Will you bugger off?”

At that point, my sinuses decided to get in on the game and started running. For the next fifteen minutes, I was sneezing and blowing my nose and coughing and all sorts of other attractive things. Finally, I got up and my sinuses and my Mind started high-fiving each other for getting me out of bed an hour and a half before my alarm was supposed to go off. Bastards.

I just talked to my mother, and apparently the weather in Toronto is craptacular, but not doing anything at home. I’ll be doing the trek in puddle-jumps (stopping in Parry Sound and Barrie) to gauge the weather and road conditions.

Wish all us travelers luck!

Update: Despite miserable road conditions from Sudbury to Barrie (and moderately bad conditions from Barrie to Toronto, and “Meh” road conditions the rest of the way), I made it home in slightly over nine hours. It’s normally a six-hour journey.

Thanks for the good karma and best wishes!

Heading South December 22, 2004

I was going to post the list of movies I saw this past year, but it needs editing and such and I’m running on empty right about now.

I’m heading home for the holidays in the morning, and the weather isn’t co-operating. It’s snowing a little tonight, but we’re supposed to get more overnight. Plus, there’s a winter storm warning for pretty much all of Southern Ontario tomorrow. However, I’m not exceedingly worried.

As I told a former co-worker in an email earlier this evening (hi Elaine!), “Yes, yes - I know there’s a winter storm warning. We get those every year, but how many times did we actually *get* a storm? (Watch - this time, there will actually be a storm. Just g/God’s way of taunting me.)” (The answer is - rarely. Never at this time of year.)

But just in case the weather is bad and I have to drive through it, could you spare me a thought or two? I should be okay if I take my time and accept that I may have to stop somewhere along the way.

Anyways, g’nite. Maybe I’ll post something brief in the morning.

Recap of the Road Trip Home September 7, 2004

3:30PM - Leave work
3:41PM - Get home; check mailbox. Hey! There’s a parcel pickup notice. Maybe it’s the book I ordered months ago finally come in!
4:30PM - Finally get everything down to my car and I’m ready to go. I’ll stop at the post office and get the parcel.
4:37PM - Oh goodie! It’s from Amazon.ca!
4:37:05PM - Wait, I haven’t ordered any DVDs lately…
4:37:08PM - Awwww! Thanks Mom! (She knew I was having a lousy week last week, so she order a few DVDs from my wish list for me)
4:40PM - Alright! I’m on the road again! The tunes are blasting, the windows are down, and I’m cruising!
4:41PM - I’m bored now.
4:42PM (and every 5 minutes for the next 5.5 hours) - Am I there yet? How much farther? How much longer is this going to take?
6:32PM - Mmmmmm… Danish! And coffee!
8:32PM - Mmmmmm…. small fries from Wendy’s!
9:34PM - Woooo! I’m off the 407! The QEW is in sight! Only 40 minutes to go!
9:37PM - Wait - do I take North Shore Boulevard or Eastport Drive? (I’m afraid of heights, so I go under the Burlington Skyway, as opposed to over it).
9:37:02PM - North Shore, I think.
9:37:03PM (as I get on the off ramp) - &%#*! I wanted Eastport!
9:44PM - Do I turn at this light or the next light? I’ll turn here
9:44:02PM - I &%#*ing wanted the next light!
9:47PM - GRrrrrr….
9:48PM - OH THE BRIDGE IS SOOOOO NOT GOING UP!
9:49PM - Oh yes it is…. (*sob*)
9:58PM - FINALLY! Back on the QEW…
10:33PM - Hello family! I’m home!

Plans have changed August 31, 2004

When my sisters and I were much younger, we had a Commodore 128 (with 64 emmulation mode!). One of our favourite games was a Barbie game, that in retrospect, had to be the most sexist game ever. The game went like this:

Barbie, who was as immobile and plastic on the computer screen as she is in real life, is standing around her house, when the phone rings. Surprise! It’s Ken! Ken is calling to invite Barbie, his go-to gal for lame-ass events, to go somewhere. Usually, it’s boring stuff, like playing tennis, going on a picnic, or going to the pool. Sometimes it’s to the prom (which seemed normal at the time, but makes no sense now. They weren’t in high school, so did they just drive around looking for proms to crash?). Whatever it was, Barbie always responded with a chipper, “Gee, that sounds like fun!” Then Ken would tell her he’d pick her up in an hour, and hang up.

Now came the challenge - getting Barbie ready for whatever it was Ken was taking her to. She’d drive around in her car, and you’d stop at the shoe shop, the hairdresser’s, and various clothing shops. You could change and colour her hair, or change the colour and pattern of the clothes and shoes - but she had to be back home in an hour! Which is soooo unrealistic - everyone knows that it takes two weeks of solid prep time for Barbie to pick out the perfect ensemble to go play tennis.

Once she got home, one of two things would happen. Either the doorbell would ring and Ken would whisk her off to some boring function, or the phone would ring and it would be that pansy-assed coward Ken, calling to cancel. “Gee Barbie, plans have changed, would you like to go to the [insert event]?”*

Because we played this game so much, “Gee Barbie, plans have changed” became a catchphrase in our family - a way of saying that something we had planned to do had undergone some retooling, and we needed to replan. And it was a fun way of boring aquaintances with stories from our childhoods, so, y’know - two birds, one stone, and all that.

All this to say that the plans for going home this weekend have changed. Not drastically, but changed nonetheless. My sister and I in the roll of Barbie, and my mother in the roll of Ken (sort of). The original plan was that I was going to stop at her place on my way home on Friday night, Saturday morning we’d hit the LYS in her neighbourhood, and then we’d proceed home. I’d get my hair cut Saturday afternoon, and then we’d hit the LYS’s there.

My sister called this evening to say that my mother has been dropping seriously heavy hints about wanting us home Friday night, so we altered our plans accordingly. She, her husband, and my younger sister will head home Friday evening, and I’ll head straight home Friday night. It’s actually a better plan, since it required a detour to get to her place. Plus, we’ll have Saturday morning to hit a few LYSs, get my hair cut, and then hit a few more. Plus, I won’t have to worry about the blueberry perogies thawing out over Friday night, and I can cook them up when I get home.

*Incidentally, if you put Barbie in a bikini or skimpy bathing suit and heels, it was guaranteed that Ken would take her anywhere, even if it was to the prom. Asshat.