Just to keep everyone in the loop -
My Friday was a bit hairier than Thursday. About 1 o'clock I started losing steam. Ended up sitting at the checkout computer from 1:30 - 2:45 just trying to stay awake. I was so tired.
But I made it through. Came home and went riding in the country with Brent to look at things. It's a disease I inherited from my dad. We are the only people I know who will pay $3.14 a gallon for gas and will ride just for the heck of it.
But I don't know what will happen next week, with five days straight in a row.
Wish me luck.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Challenge
Do you know what a book challenge is? I do, because I am a public school librarian. I also know, because over the course of six years, I have had to handle a few - the most for any school in my school system - yes, I am so proud.
A challenge occurs when someone wants a book removed from the library, because he or she thinks it is inappropriate for students. What usually happens is a parent hears about something his or her child is reading and decides that he doesn't want his child reading that, and for that matter doesn't think anybody else's child should read that book either.
So, they fill out a form, and then according to school board policy, I have to have my Media and Technology Advisory Committee read the book, meet to discuss the book, and then vote on how to answer the challenge. Then I write the parent a nice letter to let him or her know what we decided.
As a librarian and warrior for intellectual freedom, I think that most parents are nuts when they want to control what every other child in the world is reading, just because they don't want their child reading something. But, as a champion for intellectual freedom, I recognize the parents' rights to challenge library books.
You see, in order to have freedom of speech, you have to let everyone speak. Even if you don't agree with them. That's probably one of the most important things I learned while going through the MLS program in college.
So I welcome challenges. Sorta - and I look forward to meeting with my committee to discuss this book and its place in a middle school library.
The book, by the by, is The Giver, by Lois Lowry. Check it out at your local library.
Will let you know how the challenge turns out.
A challenge occurs when someone wants a book removed from the library, because he or she thinks it is inappropriate for students. What usually happens is a parent hears about something his or her child is reading and decides that he doesn't want his child reading that, and for that matter doesn't think anybody else's child should read that book either.
So, they fill out a form, and then according to school board policy, I have to have my Media and Technology Advisory Committee read the book, meet to discuss the book, and then vote on how to answer the challenge. Then I write the parent a nice letter to let him or her know what we decided.
As a librarian and warrior for intellectual freedom, I think that most parents are nuts when they want to control what every other child in the world is reading, just because they don't want their child reading something. But, as a champion for intellectual freedom, I recognize the parents' rights to challenge library books.
You see, in order to have freedom of speech, you have to let everyone speak. Even if you don't agree with them. That's probably one of the most important things I learned while going through the MLS program in college.
So I welcome challenges. Sorta - and I look forward to meeting with my committee to discuss this book and its place in a middle school library.
The book, by the by, is The Giver, by Lois Lowry. Check it out at your local library.
Will let you know how the challenge turns out.
Back to Work
Well, today was my first official day back at work in the library. I managed to work a whole day, too, which I was sure I wouldn't be able to do. And tonight, I am only a little tired and sore, so hopefully I will be able to get out of bed tomorrow and do it all over again.
It was nice to get back to work. I haven't been there since December 4, the day before my first back surgery. I have been gone about 11 weeks I guess, haven't stopped to count out the time, because it's sorta depressing.
I had my first lamenectomy - I think that's what it was supposed to be - on December 5, and it didn't take - although the doctor said it did. How can something have worked - something that was supposed to get rid of the pain - when you wake up on a gurney in terrible pain - I woke up and immediately started crying.
Well, the doctor said that the pain would ease off, and it did, but not enough to make me feel like I could go back to work after Christmas break, which was my plan. But something happened and I had another surgery on January 9th - the day I was supposed to go back to work. I put work off an extra week, hoping to feel better, but what happened? I reherniated my back. OR did I?
Brent and I both think the first doctor screwed something up, or didn't do it quite right or finish the job or whatever. The second doctor went in, cleaned things out, and I am doing rather well as far as the sciatica is concerned. And today I went back to work - did I mention that already?
And I walked from the parking lot to the car and then back again at the end of the day with no pain - amazing -
So, thanks to God and my husband, and our second doctor, for getting me through the past two and a half months, and please help me get through tomorrow - one day a time - as the song says . . .
It was nice to get back to work. I haven't been there since December 4, the day before my first back surgery. I have been gone about 11 weeks I guess, haven't stopped to count out the time, because it's sorta depressing.
I had my first lamenectomy - I think that's what it was supposed to be - on December 5, and it didn't take - although the doctor said it did. How can something have worked - something that was supposed to get rid of the pain - when you wake up on a gurney in terrible pain - I woke up and immediately started crying.
Well, the doctor said that the pain would ease off, and it did, but not enough to make me feel like I could go back to work after Christmas break, which was my plan. But something happened and I had another surgery on January 9th - the day I was supposed to go back to work. I put work off an extra week, hoping to feel better, but what happened? I reherniated my back. OR did I?
Brent and I both think the first doctor screwed something up, or didn't do it quite right or finish the job or whatever. The second doctor went in, cleaned things out, and I am doing rather well as far as the sciatica is concerned. And today I went back to work - did I mention that already?
And I walked from the parking lot to the car and then back again at the end of the day with no pain - amazing -
So, thanks to God and my husband, and our second doctor, for getting me through the past two and a half months, and please help me get through tomorrow - one day a time - as the song says . . .
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