This Is Not Your Average Library!

I have library envy. The good part is that this is MY library. And yours. It belongs to the American People. It is the Library of Congress. Look at this fabulousness! I will stack it up against ANY library in the world!

(All photos courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, photographs by Carol M. Highsmith. Above Photo reproduction number: LC-DIG-highsm-01908)

Is that not breathtaking? Psst, wait until you see this!

                                                                                           (LC-DIG-highsm-01925)

Yes, there is a fountain! (Makes me want to jump in on a sunny day! I'm sure some Washingtonians felt the same way!)

Let's go inside. Did you know that the Library of Congress has sculptured bronze doors, marble columns and bas reliefs, stained glass windows, painted cantilevered ceilings, grand staircases,, murals depicting myriad subjects like printing, zoology, etc, Pompeiian panels of the virtues like courage and fortitude, renderings of Greek mythology like the Muses (a favorite!) and bronze statues?

                                                                                                                          (LC-DIG-highsm-01785)

A marbled staircase...

 

                                                                                           (LC-DIG-highsm-01961)

Imagine the grand entrance you could make here! Note all the carvings and sculptures. Then, there's this:

                                                                                                                         (LC-DIG-highsm-03187)

This is an aerial view of the Main Reading Room. You are surrounded by priceless art, history, knowledge. How could anyone NOT be inspired?! Let's go see more books! 

                                                                                                                          (LC-DIG-highsm-02098)

Wonder where they have Sirenz? 

                                                                                                                          (LC-DIG-highsm-03194)

This is the African-Middle Eastern Reading Room. One of just so many...

But it's more than just a beautiful place- these librarians are masters at their craft- all forms of knowledge and its safekeeping. Need to find an obscure article? Have to find a photo? Question about a book? These are the people to go to:

www.loc.gov

If the world's population perished, except me of course, this is where I'd head too. (First raiding every Starbucks on the way for Chai Latte supplies.) It would be a writer/reader's dream. 

So check it out! Visit! Surf its site! Ask a question! Get the best research help in the world! This is the People's Library.

Char

Homegrown

Friday is Wear Red to support a Vet.

I support the Wounded Warriors Project and the Disabled American Veterans causes.

My American flag will fly at full staff, day and night, until all our soldiers come home from Afghanistan.

So Buy American. Give, keep, create jobs at home so vets returning home, and other Americans, will have jobs.



God Bless America!

How Stupid Do You Think I Am?

So I'm trolling my email spam folder because sometimes there's something important in there, and I come across an email traffic ticket. (Wish I'd saved a copy, I was getting them often, but that was before I started doing this everyday blog thing.)

From New York.

My first reaction was to check my calendar to see if I'd been in NY at the time.

Uh, no. If anything, I was in Connecticut at the time.

My second reaction was "How did the police get my email?"

And then it dawned on me that "Duh, this is a scam."

So beware, the scum are out in force.

(Clipart courtesy of Microsoft Office- because I can't draw and I don't have time to find a friendly police officer who will allow me to take his picture while he gives someone a traffic ticket.)

I Appreciate The Sentiment

Going through the mail- junk, ads, bills, real estate listings.

And a hand written letter.

The script was old-school; elegant, neat, small. Definitely written by a woman. The return address wasn't anyone I knew. Maybe it was that ploy where a charity calls up your neighbor, asking them to send fifteen letters to friends, family and neighbors to solicit for them (By the way, don't ask me to do that, it's YOUR job; I have to live with my neighbors). As soon as I pulled out the letter, I realized it was a personal missive which included a religious newsletter.

I'm not going to prosletise. And I'm not going to be converted. What struck me is that this woman took the time to write a thoughtful, sincere letter. There was no condemnation of any beliefs, or lack, that I may have. There were no criticisms of any other religions, saying they were misguided or evil. I couldn't find a single reference to moral decay.

All I read was a message of comfort if I'd ever lost a loved one. On a personal note, I lost my grandmother, Estelle, days later. While I found this woman's words kind, I didn't feel any less grieved.

But that's not the point. While most people would have been annoyed, even angry, I felt... I don't know the exact word. This woman took so much of her time to write a personal letter to a stranger, wanting only to share her belief of how to live a better life. While I may not agree with everything or even most of what she wrote, I commend her for living her beliefs without being antagonistic, arrogant or degrading.

We should all take a lesson from Katherine.

Tuesday Tantrums

Yes, I'm going to have a tantrum today.

When your mouse moves over the word 'Rants' a stupid ad, THAT I DID NOT AUTHORIZE and THAT I HATE pops up.

Maybe you've seen it, been annoyed by it, and were tempted to leave me a nasty note about spam? I don't blame you, but you can't blame me. Who the Hell is Living Play and htf did they just pop up on my blog? I must track down these peeps, use some toe curling language and GET THEM OFF MY BLOG.

Help a girl out. If you can, send them a nasty email, telling them to get off the random words they show up on, on FB, PERSONAL BLOGS, even on Yahoo. Really, they are just as invasive, useless, annoying, and parasitic as spammers, hackers and telemarketers. And complain to all those who take advantage of our space- blogs, FB pages, Twitter accounts, emails, etc. to piggyback for their own selfish interests.

*I've emailed their customer service. Will let you know how it turns out.

Okay! I'm done for the day with my tantrum! Time for some tea and some writing!  :)

Char

Response, Sil Vous Plait

If you didn't grow up with computers, you might not know what RSVP means. (Hint: check out the title) It's French. And it means "Respond, if you please." Alas, it belongs to the lost art of replying to an invitation. A written one. One that requires you to write (or call) with an answer.

Although I dreaded having to write them but was forced to by my mother, my grandmother got written Thank You cards or letters. In later years, it became permissable to call (generally because we needed to confirm the gift arrived safely via UPS).

When relatives or friends passed away, scores of sympathy cards were sent to the family.

Now responses, thank yous, sympathies are all texted, tweeted, Facebooked, emailed.

I predict the current generation of elementary school students will not know how to handwrite much more than their names. What do you think? Do you use cursive beyond signing? Do you use print?

Char

Riddle Me This...

It's the NY Giants, but they practice & play in NJ.

They practice & play in NJ, but are called the NY Giants.

NY should pony up for a Giants Stadium.

NJ should pony up for their own team.

That being said....

                                                           (Photo courtesy of New England Patriots)
                         
                        GO PATRIOTS!!!!
That is all. Enjoy the Bowl.

Char