Everybody Talks About the Weather

What with one thing and another, I don't read Lileks much anymore. I didn't, in fact, get through all of today's post, but what I skimmed made me think it is my duty to mention that it's going to be 75 degrees today. Again. It's normal to think of September as the fourth month of summer; it wasn't odd that much of October was mild (except the weekend I went camping? Nah, it wasn't that bad.); but, really, 70s for most of November??

At least the leaves settled into changing long about October 28. Sometimes it seems that those four years in New England shaped my ideas about fall more than they should: why else would I believe that the leaves should begin changing closer to October 1? Despite pointedly taking walks in the woods, my vote for best autumn display may go for some trees along 64, between Phil's house and mine. Nah, we got some award-winning sun-through-yellow leaves at Henricus; the highway will have to be runner-up.


Settled In?

I must really have settled in to the new job: my definition of a kooky patron has become more stringent. As we left last night, R looked up and said, Yeah, full moon; that explains it.

I said, Hunh, I don't think I had anyone that zany.

What! Said T. Did you forget Loud Cell Phone Girl?!

Oh, yeah. As I returned from helping someone in non-fiction, I changed my tact to intercept a 20ish young woman headed to the Ref Desk, all but shouting into her phone. Several feet from the desk, I said my usual quiet-but-firm, "I'm sorry, m'am, but we ask that people have phone conversations outside of the library." She replied, doubling my volume, "Yeah, I gotta do this," and stepped up to the desk, asking her phone, "So six o'clock?"

"Outside of the library, please." I insisted, taking my place of authority behind the desk.

"I gotta find out what time she wants." She conferred on the phone again about days and times and hung up. I may have been guilty of making a pursed-lips-librarian face.

I got out the room reservation book, and in a lower voice than usual explained to her about the size of our meeting rooms, use by non-profit groups, etc. The odd thing was -- or maybe it wasn't? -- was that she continued to talk loudly about reserving the room.

Maybe she's always a loud-talker. Obviously, she's immune to subtle hints such as my lowering my voice in order to model to her expected behavior. Whatever her deal, no, she wasn't all that zany.

Shout out to CNB for the hospitality of showing us her new bumblebee house and hometown, and Frederick, Md., too. Also, a dose of peer pressure: Sure! Start a blog! Right here. Everybody does it.