It feels good

to help a friend! Today I reopened JoJo's Salon just for one special friend who is facing job interviews for the first time in 15 years. I cut her hair and showed her some make-up tricks then went to brunch where I lobed interview questions at her. Then I took her to get her brows waxed! It was truly a day of beauty, a regaining of confidence and a morale booster. In the past the JoJo Salon has only opened exclusively for Madeline and Zoe....but today was an exceptional day. I've got my fingers and toes crossed that she will be able to find a job.

Changes All Around

So now the library is moving folks around to assure all locations are properly staffed to accommodate the change in hours coming on October 1st. Notifications were given in person by managers and executive staff and even though we all knew it was coming there were a few who were not very gracious about it. They should stop and think about those who were RIF'd last week and be happy to be employed....or they can just leave....there is no room for bitching anymore. I lost one page to the relocation and I'm gaining a librarian, a person whom I don't know well but has been described to me a 'challenge' how fun does that sound? Time will tell!

Good news...my proposed hours change at my Bookmarks location was given the big OK by Director Evans. Yippee, Wahoo, Yah for me! This means more open hours, additional programming and happy customers since we'll be open in the mornings now.

Christmas in August?

Yes, me the lover-o-all-things-Christmas.....NOT....went to see the National Train Tour of Disney's remake of Dickens' A Christmas Carol. It was amazing visiting Union Station in downtown Dallas with my partner-in-crime, Alei. We had to wait an hour to board the train but it was worth the sweat! Watch for it to come to your area as it is headed east from here...you get to see a trailer of the 3D movie and on the train you see the costumes and the making of the film, interviews by the stars and you can have your photo taken and super-imposed on one of the characters...I did Tiny Tim and Alei to Scooge in chains! It was too much fun for a Tuesday!

Sad, Happy, Sad

Yesterday 29 wonderful folks were RIF'd (reduction in force) from Dallas Public Library. There was an air of sadness in every building that just permeated every pore. I lost one great staff member, but one of my best friends in the building was also RIF'd and that hurt even more. While I plan to do everything I can to help him see this as an opportunity to find something better, something new, something exciting.....I'm just selfish enough to be thinking about how much I'm going to miss seeing him everyday!

Today was the End of Summer Reading Party....happy all around! We had tons of fun, face painting, balloon art, bounce house, super slide, rock climbing wall, popsicles and dancing. Yes, I was dancing on the library plaza with the kiddos. It was a terrific celebration of all the reading the kids did all summer.

After coming home from the big party today I remembered that today is August 15th and 14 years ago today my dad died. I still miss him, wish he could see all that I am doing here and get one of his big, tight hugs. My dad was a cuddler. The last photo I have of us together we were seated side-by-side on the couch, my head resting on his shoulder, his arm around me. I've been looking at that photo tonight wishing I could feel that kind of complete, unqualified acceptance again. Maybe someday....

Attitude!

Sometimes all it takes is a few hours by the pool to gain a new attitude! Right Britt? That's how I started my day today and even though I got a few calls from work I was able to relax, finish my book and get some vitamin D. After lunch I went to Ikea and I managed to stay focused enough to just get the ONE item I was in search of...a cool plastic rocker for Bookmarks...it's sort of a rocking horse with no legs or head, it sounds weird I know but it is very cool AND I got THREE in RED!

I emptied out my change jar today and cashed it in....$52.46! Sweet! It basically paid for my haircut tonight so that was a bonus and I found a hairstylist that I really like. Double Bonus! It's been a very good day in Jo-World.

steppin' out

I took the plunge this morning and went hiking on the Chisholm Trail in Plano with 14 other single people from Events and Adventures. It was a bit nerve-racking to go there alone, not knowing anyone who would be there but the hostess, Sheila, made me feel very welcome and I met a bunch of nice people while walking for TWO HOURS! Whew...it was a good workout too. Afterwards 10 of us went to the Corner Bakery for brunch and to chat. All in all it was a pleasant experience and now I have the confidence to do this again and again.....skydiving at the end of the month anyone????

a passing

Lester Nelson May died yesterday at the age of 86. Les and his wife Harriet and their boys John and Nelson have lived catty-corner across the street from my family's home for over 50 years. I had a crush on John when he was in high school; my first 'older man'! John gave me my start in the travel business back in 1981 and Les was our delivery driver after he had retired from his architecture career. Les had gray hair for as long as I can remember.....but he never seemed old. He had a wonderful smile and everytime I saw him I got a big hug. When I moved back to Gainesville in 1996 after my dad died I joined the local gym and used to go at 6am to workout....Harriet and Les would just be finishing as they would go at 5am! We used to laugh about being the 'early birds.' I can clearly remember the twinkle in Les' eye as he would take Harriet by the hand as the left the gym. Now Harriet and my mom are the last two 'originals' left on 20th Place, two widowed ladies who have raised their families together. It'll be a rough transition but hopefully they will see each other through, as they always do.