Books? Who needs BOOKS?!?!?!?!?!?!? I Do!!!

So there I was headed to my local library to get some books on a research paper I was doing. I stroll on in and head to the computers to look up my topic and find books that I can use. A simple topic really....alcoholism and smoking and the effects on your health.

I do the first search on alcoholism....on the first page of about 10 results, I came across about 8 that were Internet sites. EIGHT out of ten? So I proceeded to take down call numbers for the few books I was able to find...on to the next topic of smoking.....basically the SAME result, I actually couldn't find ONE book on smoking..they were all Internet sites!

OK

so maybe I am old-fashioned, and the crazy idea of finding BOOKS in a library is just unfathomable in this day and age. As I went on my quest with my short list of call numbers, I looked around to see A LOT less books in the entire library...I did see more computers and more DVDs to rent, but less aisles of books. I guess with all these people using their Kindles to read books and such instead of actually picking up such a book made of paper and cardboard, there is no need for books in the libraries anymore. It's sad, I LOVE books, and I NEED to be able to touch the book and turn pages, not click on a screen or keypad, I just can't!

besides the book issue at the library, I came across a common trend of leaving kids in the library as a babysitter. Little kids running around obnoxiously screaming, yelling, stamping up and down stairs...no parents to watch over. And if there WAS a parent around, you got the usual "oh stop it now....." as the kid throws a fit in the middle of the place. I mean I think it MORE quiet outside in the parking lot than it was in the actual library itself! Ridiculous.

I also came across the slobs of the town...you know the ones that have NO CLUE how to return a book to the shelf (or at least to the rack so the librarian can return it to the proper place) I went to have a seat to look through my THREE books, and I wasn't sure if people were sitting at places and just left their books there for a moment or if they actually DID leave and just figured someone else could clean up after them. I finally found an empty table, I did some reading, took some notes. Out of the blue a guy gets up out of his seat and slams like 5 big books down on the floor making a very loud bang. When numerous people turned in his direction his reply was "sorrrrrrrry" as if WE were wrong to expect people to NOT throw books on the floor! ugh!!!

Ugh! it stinks in here!

Why oh why must I have to come back to this topic??? I hate to repeat myself, but I will.....

Do you have to BATHE in a vat of cologne before you leave your house everyday? REALLY? Is it neccessary to give all those around serious headaches and sneezing attacks? I am actually CHOKING on your cologne as I type. I unfortunately have no where else to go in this library, all other computers are in use...if I could I would have moved at the first sign of that tickle in my throat, and the irritation in my eyes, not to mention the pain that is slowly but surely building in my head.....THANKS buddy!

and the best part of it all, is that every time I think that the odor has reached its limit and I may be able to breathe a little easier, you move your arm or get up to print something and a new wave of stink bombards me....

bad enough if it was a somewhat decent cologne, overpowering as it may be, it wouldn't be as horrible as this stench! What the hELL is that? Eau de Foulness???

Please STOP!!!

CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH!!!

So there I was, sitting in my History class, taking an exam. My professor likes to give us essay exams, so you can imagine the work you have to put into each test (there is one EVERY week!). As I am reading over the questions, the girl in front of me (now let me remind you that we are in EXTREMELY close quarters in this particular classroom, its very annoying to be so cramped together!) Back to the girl in front of me...she proceeds to take out a bag of chips, crumples the bag to get it open and then eats. Potato chips are NOT quiet snacks...they are LOUD! So there she is crunch Crunch CRUNCH as we are all trying to take a test. Then she sucks on her bottle of hawaiian punch like it was her last drink forever. THIS was extremely annoying!!

Now, to make matters worse....her buddy next to her, finishes his test, then takes out THREE bags of chips and assorted snacks. He then starts to smash the bag of chips on his desk, making plenty of noise, and after he has pulverized the ships, he then stuffs them down his gullet! He does that with the second bag as well.

what the hell is wrong with people? no consideration for ANYONE?!?!!?!?!!??

and now for something completely different....

I had a few rants in mind while I was at school and on the train today, but then I got a message from my husband, and my troubles seemed to melt away.

See, Mike isn't one to be all lovey dovey all the time (I am...I think Isay I love you so much, he may be sick of hearing it!) So on those few occasions that he comes up and does something sweet and completely out of the blue, my heart just melts!

Today was one of those days, a simple text message to tell me he loves me and that I have a hug awaiting my arrival at home....that was all I needed to bring a smile to my face and to realise how lucky I am to have Mike as my husband.

We may not have the finest house, or fancy cars or loads of money to toss around, but we have each other (and Quincy of course!) and I can say that I am completely happy!

As I told Mike when I got home today (to get my hug!) "I love getting hugs from you, it's the best way to end the day!"

How Obscene!

Ok, so I'm on a very overcrowded subway train making my rush hour trip home from school to Penn Station and eventually home. People keep cramming in, the doors can't possibly close with arms and legs and heads sticking out...its CRAZY! Well there I am pinned up against a guy, and suddenly I notice something poking me in the ass. I try to move out of this object's way, but it stays with me like superglue. I realise that it is the umbrella of the woman behind me. I turn and look at her, she is OBLIVIOUS that her umbrella is attempting to give me a colonoscopy. I move again, hoping the movement of my body with her umbrella would make her notice where she is shoving it. I mean REALLY!?!?!?!?? You're in a crowded place and you stick your umbrella straight out in front of you?? c'mon now!

Fortunately I only had one more stop to stand there....but before I unplugged my crack......I farted on her umbrella! Yes I did!! Wonder if she noticed???



******

Since we are on the topic of umbrellas, I have another comment to make. I may have mentioned it in earlier blogs, or just in rants among friends, but why the hell do people carry around such GIGANTIC umbrellas? I mean, when you're walking down the sidewalk heading to work or whatnot, is there a need to use an umbrella that can fit 5 of your friends and still none of you get wet? Bad enough if you're strolling along in a park, or a big open space, but we're in NYC people!! Not a lot of room as it is when you're trying to maneuver your way down the street, let alone having to avoid humongous umbrellas in your eyes.

I think they should make a law, similar to the HOV lanes on the Long Island Expressway. The HOV lanes require that you have at least 2 people (including driver) in the car. Well how about a limit on umbrellas as well? You want to carry that gargantuan bumbershoot with you? Then you must have at least 3 people accompany you under there...come to think of it, its a lot like car pooling....you take turns holding the umbrella, or you use your own each week or whatever....

a wasted trip...as usual

Well well well...a new year is here and the same shit is happening.

I have been emailing my college for a while now (since my commute is a 3 hour round trip, I don't have time to just drop in and talk to people) I got a loan for my tuition and books and I wanted to know I can get the money to purchase my books for this semester. I was told through email that such information cannot be divulged via email or phone and that I had to come in and see a financial aid advisor in person.

So, I take a day off from work, I travel on the train to school and I wait on line at the financial aid office. I was asked if I had a referral from the one stop desk. WHAT?!?!?!? I have to stand on a line that wraps around the corridors of the main lobby for them to say "You need to see someone at the FA office" and then they give me a little piece of paper ALLOWING me to go to the FA office? How the hell does THAT make any sense?????

I explain that I had been emailed from the FA office and I was told to come in and speak to an advisor. They let me stay on line.

Next stop is the 'reception area' where one student at a time is allowed to walk up to the desk, sign in and state their issue. The lady at the desk then tells you what FA person you have to see. You are then buzzed in at the FA office and allowed to wait there for eternity until someone calls your name....it makes me remember the old days at the DMV, only you don't have a number, just your name.

I figure out who the woman is that I have to see, and I wait as other people are called, and other advisers come by and take people in. Then suddenly I see MY advisor and 2 others getting their coats on to go to lunch. Now I understand everyone gets a lunch break, no biggie, but when you have a hoard of students waiting to see you, you don't ALL go at once, leaving ONE person behind...WTF!?!?!!?!!?!

The girl next to me was pissed. I was waiting about an hour at this point and she had been there way before I was. She got up and expressed her concern to the receptionist who then referred her to a new adviser. That same adviser then took me into her office.....so why couldn't I have seen her? Have TWO advisers working on the same subject..wouldn't that have made the line go down faster?

But anyway.....after looking at my file, she tells me that I can get a book voucher now, but I can't use it until Friday. WHAT? I tell her that I guess I will just go in on Monday during the first day of class. She was against that and told me that it would be much too busy on Monday and that I should go on Friday. And I explain to her "Well seeing that I missed a day of work to come here today, I don't think I should miss yet another day of work, I'll just deal with the crowds on Monday"
After she reviewed it all she then stated "Ok, so just bring in your validated bursars receipt and your school ID to the book store and you can get your books"
No official paperwork or anything, just her telling me to go to the bookstore....

Now I was too excited to get out of the office and I failed to realise this while I was sitting in front of her...

They couldn't tell me ANY of this information over the phone or by email due to privacy issues, yet I spoke to FOUR different people and not one of them asked for ID!?!?!?:!?!?!!?!?!?!?!!?!!?!?!?!! And if I was able to speak to someone without having to come in, then maybe I would have been able to go get my books on Friday!

I just keep telling myself..."only 2 more years, only 2 more years"