I don't get some people

I came home this evening and took Cerys, my dog, out. She went out into the courtyard about six feet from my patio and three feet from someone else's (the apartments are nice, but they're apartments, and I'm on a corner, so we're very close together). She pees. Suddenly I hear a blood-curdling screech from inside the other person's apartment and "does anyone know who's dog that is?!" at which point I move into view and say "she's mine, is there a problem". "My kids play there!" Um...well, yes, of course. Does she think the ground is sterile? Does she not realise that virtually every space in the city that is not enclosed (and much that is) has been urinated on at some point by a dog? Granted, I think that--I don't say that. I tell her, "she only peed" to reassure her, since she may have thought otherwise. Obviously one does not want a child to play in dog poop. Does she not see the baggie I carry for that? She goes, "well, I'll have to clean my carpet". Excuse me? She's not peeing on your damn carpet. She's peeing on the God-given earth as dogs were meant to, on a patch that could only cause problems for the carpet because it's already muddy and likely to be more so, given the storm clouds approaching. I shake my head and lead Cerys away from the crazy woman, who slams her door and closes her curtains. I consider if I have somehow commtted a faux pas of some sort, but after careful review I think it comes down to the fact that she's just a crazy bitch.

Less than an hour later a huge downpour causes about three inches of water to temporarily pool up in our part of the courtyard, surely to goodness washing the last trace of the terrible dog pee away before the precious darlings can be contaminated.

Maybe I would feel different if I were a mom, but really, kids are going to eat dirt. Dirt is going to be dirty. If your'e not comfortable with that, you might as well vacuum-seal them away from the beginning. Some doctors today say that our love affair with sterile environments are partly to blame for the upswing in childhood asthma and allergies. Somehow, with all the things that can hurt a child out there, I think dog pee is the least of our worries. If a person's going to be uptight about it, then it would be better to get a house or at least have an apartment in a place that doesn't allow pets. I'm careful about a lot of things that matter. I clean scoop poop. I've never put in the barrel water garden I've always wanted because a child can drown in a bucket of water. I don't plant pretty things like castor beans or monkshood because they could kill a child dead. I just didn't expect caterwauling over dog pee. Silly me.

FRRIIIDDDDAAAAAYYYYYY!!

1. Would you consider yourself an organised person? Why or why not?
Ha! For someone who makes a living by organising things so they're accessible to others (and I was trained as a cataloguer), I am piss-poor at organising my own life. It's like it all gets thrown into one pile and things might surface to the top. An old boss is the same way. She said she was too busy organising other people's lives to deal with her own.

2. Do you keep some type of planner, organiser, calendar, etc. with you, and do you use it regularly?
I keep a handheld device--a Handspring Visor. Give me a planner and I use it a few times and it gets lost in the mound of stuff on my desk. Give me a computer and I'm okay, especially with backups. I used to say that at least I couldn't lose a computer on my desk. The handheld would be easy to misplace, but it backups each time I sync and I have a special pocket in my satchel for it. :)

3. Would you say that your desk is organised right now?
Actually, it is. I straighten up everything on a quarterly basis, and we're going into our big open house, so I'm trying to get the library looking nice. Usually I just get to a point where I can't take it anymore and sit down and organise.

4. Do you alphabetize CDs, books, and DVDs, or does it not matter?
Yes. Of course, what sort of librarian do you take me for? Actually, they are grouped by subject--so cookbooks are further divided into say, vegetarian, diabetes, Italian cooking, etc. History books are arranged chronologically. Fiction is by genre, followed by author's name. At least I've never put shelf labels on them.

5. What's the hardest thing you've ever had to organise?
Without fail, people. I've headed several committees and organisations, and unlike books, people just are too dynamic and resistant to attempts to keep them in order. They tend to wander off even more frequently when you're not looking.

Salam is back!

For an Iraqi perspective on the war and its aftermath, check out Salam Pax' blog, now updated with the what happened since March.

I'm going to sign off; we have a bad thunderstorm but I promised Dwana I'd post the address tonight. Catch you later. And welcome back, Salam.

My cat looks very silly...but hopefully for a good reason

I have a 12-year-old cat (Buns) that has about as many allergies as I do, but he has the extra problem of licking himself when he itches. Just in case you're not a cat person, let me explain that cats have very rough tongues. We've changed litter, food, given him steroid shots, etc. But he still has trouble, and it causes open wounds that are pretty big in relation to a fairly small (7-8lb) cat. What's really a shame is that's he's normally absolutely gorgeous--a spotted brown calico with white stockings, which is very rare in males. We've done what we can to alleviate his actual itching but he still worries his skin--at this point it's a little dry but not inflamed, and I think he may be doing it more out of habit than anything now. Every time his wound tries to scab, he licks it raw again. So, I've put a triple-layer non-stick pad on with some hurt-free (read latex-free tape) that sticks to itself pretty firmly, and placed over that...a large sock with the toes cut out. Yup. He looks like he has a diaper around his middle. But I'm hoping it will help. I checked with a variety of people and it should help the wound. One of my coworkers who works with animals a lot suggested a very tiny dose of Benadryl to cut down on the last of the itching. Zabet even offered to knit some white cotton "Buns cozies", which is good, ,because the sock is way too short. Since he tends to get cold easily (he's always warm around the trunk but has cold paws, so his circulation is mucked up), that may help. And I checked, the sock isn't too tight. He doesn't like it, of course. He ate and now he's licking it--but he's not pulling at it, so I'm hoping I don't have to add an Elizabethan collar to the mix. Which I may, because he's really not liking this. He hates it when the 'thumbs'--people--get crafty.

May is National Mental Health Month

(My thanks to Cecile Douglas of SAMHSA for this information)
It is a fact! Good mental health is essential to the personal well-being of everyone. Good mental health enhances our ability to lead healthy, balanced, and productive lives. Mental health problems can affect anyone, and the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) is diligent in its efforts to address mental health issues in children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly.

May is National Mental Health Month, and SAMHSA’s National Mental Health Information Center is pleased to include this annual health observance among its special web page features this month. The theme for this year is “Mental Health Matters Every Day.”

Located at http://www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/highlights/May2003/mentalhealth/, this web page provides details about activities and programs developed by CMHS and other private sector organizations to improve services to individuals with mental illnesses and to help consumers consistently maintain good mental health.

Other related features for May, available to you and your readers on SAMHSA’s National Mental Health Information Center web site, include:

• The National Suicide Awareness Week web page at http://www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/highlights/May2003/suicide/, which highlights this celebration taking place May 4-11. The event sponsor, the American Association of Suicidology (AAS), and its partners use this opportunity each year to disseminate information and resources on risk factors for suicide and emphasize prevention strategies.
  
  
• Childhood Depression Awareness Day, which is observed May 6. Celebrated by the National Mental Health Association and its affiliates since 1997, this observance is designed to bring attention to childhood mental illness, a condition that is becoming increasingly more common. Recent SAMHSA research finds that one out of every 33 children may have depression. Go to http://www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/highlights/May2003/depression/ to learn about the signs and symptoms of this mood disorder and find out what parents and caregivers can do.
  
  
• The CMHS Program Spotlight, featuring the Survey and Analysis Branch. This CMHS Branch collects, analyzes, and reports national statistical information on mental health services and the people served. Visit this special feature page at http://www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/highlights/May2003/spotlight/ to learn more about the program’s operations and projects.
  

All the featured sites referred to here link users to publications, related topics, and a select list of links to organizations that offer additional information on each topic. These resources are available for free to you and your audiences. You are invited to link to this information on your web site, post the content to your site with a link to the National Mental Health Information Center’s web site as your source, or use it in whatever way is most convenient for you.
********************************************
The National Mental Health Information Center (http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/) is a service of SAMHSA, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Call 1-800-789-2647 for bilingual information services; (TDD) 866-889-2647.

More trouble for the Cuban independent library movement...

You probably don't picture librarians as dissidents, but the truth is librarians often consider themselves defenders of freedom--for good reasons. The press release below illustrates that point well; check out their website for more information.

(WWW.FRIENDSOFCUBANLIBRARIES.ORG)
May 1, 2003

Worldwide indignation is growing over the wave of repression being unleashed against Cuba's dissident movement. The Friends of Cuban Libraries have learned that the ten independent librarians tried in Cuba on vague charges of "undermining Cuba's national sovereignty" have been sentenced, after one-day trials, to a total of 196 YEARS in prison. Details are being posted on our website: (www.friendsofcubanlibraries.org).

In other news, Encuento en la Red (www.cubaencuentro.com) announced today that American intellectuals are now joining in the worldwide protests against the current crackdown in Cuba. Today's edition of Encuentro reports that Noam Chomsky, Cornel West and Ariel Dorfman (who has long been a supporter of Cuba's independent librarians) have signed an open letter protesting the mass arrests of Cuban dissidents. Earlier signers of similar petitions include Charles Faulhaber, the director of the Bancroft Library at the University of California at Berkeley and Jon Juaristi, the former director of the National Library of Spain.

In a turnaround, numerous European and Latin American intellectuals who until now have staunchly supported the Castro government have now repudiated the regime. Among these prominent persons are Jose Saramago, Eduardo Galeano and Carlos Fuentes.

For additional details, please refer to our website.

(Latebreaking News: On April 25, for the first time, President Fidel Castro denounced the independent libraries in a speech responding to the growing worldwide outcry against Cuba's repression of dissidents.)

In Solidarity,

The Friends of Cuban Libraries
(WWW.FRIENDSOFCUBANLIBRARIES.ORG)

Happy Birthday, Ma, wherever you are

I just realised today is the 5th. (Yeah, I was stuck on the Monday part.) Today would have been my great-grandmother's 100th birthday (she died in 1991). I miss her and hope she's well. She had a wonderful, feisty spirit, even though Alzheimer's robbed her of so much of her declining years.

You know a chaperoned blind date went well when:

1. No one ran screaming from the building at first meeting.
2. The main fidgeter was one of the matchmakers, not the two parties who had never met.
3. Everyone had a good time.
4. Everyone relaxed after the first few minutes.
5. Everyone had a free-for-all at the dollar book table at the end. Oh. Maybe that's not your ideal ending to a date. But it worked for me. ;)

I'll write more later.

Monday humour from one of those random e-mails

Subject: Crazy Newspaper Ads Actually Taken From Classified Ads In Newspapers:

FREE YORKSHIRE TERRIER.
8 YEARS OLD. HATEFUL LITTLE DOG.

FREE PUPPIES: = COCKER SPANIEL = SNEAKY NEIGHBOR'S DOG

FREE PUPPIES... PART GERMAN SHEPHERD PART STUPID DOG

GERMAN SHEPHERD 85 lbs. NEUTERED. SPEAKS GERMAN. FREE

FOUND: DIRTY WHITE DOG. LOOKS LIKE A RAT... BEEN OUT AWHILE. BETTER BE REWARD.

1 MAN, 7 WOMAN HOT TUB -- $850/offer

SNOW BLOWER FOR SALE... ONLY USED ON SNOWY DAYS.

2 WIRE MESH BUTCHERING GLOVES:
1 5-finger, 1 3-finger, PAIR: $15

COWS, CALVES NEVER BRED... ALSO 1 GAY BULL FOR SALE.

NORDIC TRACK $300 HARDLY USED, CALL CHUBBY

BILL'S SEPTIC CLEANING "WE HAUL AMERICAN MADE PRODUCTS".

GEORGIA PEACHES CALIFORNIA GROWN - 89 cents lb.

NICE PARACHUTE NEVER OPENED - USED ONCE

JOINING NUDIST COLONY! MUST SELL WASHER & DRYER $300.

ALZHEIMER'S CENTER PREPARES FOR AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER

OPEN HOUSE - BODY SHAPERS TONING SALON FREE COFFEE & DONUTS

FOR SALE BY OWNER: Complete set of Encyclopedia Britannica
45 volumes. Excellent condition. $1,000.00 or best offer. No longer needed. Got married last weekend. Wife knows everything

I wonder what Tom would say?

Genealogy can be very controversial, and of course private associations have total control over their membership, but I rather thought this was over the top. The wife of the head of the Monticello Association (which is made up of [paying] lineal descendants of Thomas Jefferson and controls the cemetary in which Jefferson lies) apparently went onto a Yahoo!Groups message board and pretended to be a black descendant (through a mistress who was a black slave named Sally Hemings). She adopted a persona of an older lady with emphysema. The Hemings clan have been formally excluded from membership in the association. Members of the association have in the past invited members of the Hemings family to the annual reunion, however. With this reunion looming, new rules were being put into place to limit their participation--rules that evolved as the Hemings discussed ways to get more people in. This seems the direct result of this woman's participation.

Many of the association believe the Hemings should be allowed in. DNA points that a Jefferson male (although it cannot definitely say it was Thomas) fathered at least the youngest child of Hemings. From what I can tell, to be a full member in the association you have to be a lineal descendant (but somehow I don't think DNA is used to figure that out!) and spouses and stepchildren, etc., can become associate members. They claim to be investigating the matter of how to determine membership eligibility thoroughly (and have been since 1999).

Okay, I know a private association can pick and choose whom the let in, but...well, last I checked a descendant was a descendant--whether they're black, white, or purple, legitimate or not. If someone produced a child by so-and-so, they're a descendant. Granted, it's probably harder to prove it through standard genealogy than through legitimate lines due to the lack of proper paperwork. But there does seem to be a great deal of evidence on the Hemings' side. So the Monticello Association comes off as a bunch of bigots protecting their idea of Jefferson--and even if her actions were not condoned, it's a public relations nightmare--even though many agree the Hemings should be welcomed in and are just as appalled by these revelations as the Hemings. Still, it seems to me it would be better for all involved to worth through the matter a little quicker so they don't undermine the whole reason for their group. If I were in charge, the wife, if she were an associate member, would be out on her butt quicker than you can say "Thomas Jefferson". And I'd invite a Heming in her place. But that's me. :)