Well, the new Shoot Boss has had a great day...

Appleseed at Castle Rock, does. In spite of the potential down pours possible, the distances from home, the holiday foolishness of Halloween that one might miss (I gave out candy at my home to costumed children) we had sixteen shooters to learn from some dedicated volunteer instructors. Really glad that we fired all those rounds safely, that the groups were getting tighter, and the shooters got to do two AQTs and are eager to return tomorrow. Me, too, and I will like that one extra hour, this time.

Why am I working in a prison library? or any?

After getting a sunburn on the Sunny beaches of Florida, Sunday afternoon, my wife says I am as red as a radish. But I was preparing to ride the Trusty Triumph to work and it was a bit chilly outside, not frosty yet but certainly stirred me to cut a couple of minutes off my jog because I wanted to go faster and stay warm as my breath clouded when I exhaled. Yeah, leather St. Johns Bay jacket, white, knitted by wife, scarf around my neck (flashbacks to WWI flying outfits), pulled on the almost winterized thick gauntlets and allow the motorcycle to warm up a little longer as I adjust the helmet. Florida was nice wasn't it? I waved good-bye and rolled off into the ride, and I don't have to share, go get your own ride, worth every penny and all the unexpected shocks along the way.

A walk to the dock, finally thinking about what I need to accomplish in the library, nap on ferry, and walk into the prison, okay it is a Corrections Center, but that is so many extra key strokes. I am on the outgoing mail, the incoming mail, and find a Library for the Blind bag, knowing immediately who that should have gone to - I know his name, been here too long? Check the four days of email, and answer some that have already been taken care of by others. But one has to look, sometimes they don't skip you and they wait. Find a message from my supervisor that says I have to get the branch manual updated before she returns, and I was so sure I had it updated before I left - put that on the procrastination pile. Finally I have a full crew the last one tells me that his unit was locked down - since movement is already thirty minutes late I could believe it. And we work and help the customers, I find small problems only I can fix, others they should have already and guide them back to doing it better for the library and customers. Sending patrons to me is only when they have done all they can, I get interrupted many times, and that sometimes makes me forget my place and I start over. Can't say there is any boring stuff in my library, everyone wants something from me - the hustle is constant.

Another patron comes to my door and I almost start to snarl, I am such a bad guy, but then I ask what I can do for him, he wants to know what to read -- seems he has a lot of time on his hands and wants to get that stuff he missed in school. He wants the classics and stuff the college types all know, kind of. So I hit Google and print out about three recommended reading lists - glancing at them most of them aren't on my reading list but the education and media elite think they are worthy. Sigh. So I go out and we start to talk more about what he wants from the reading, self education opportunities in the library (all libraries everywhere), and why he didn't do it all the first time years ago. I want to give him Ender's Game but it isn't on the shelf but recommend it (he looks like he need teenage male romance -- which is always competitive adventure not sex, folks). Yes, I did show him the Great Books collection briefly - but I won't start anyone on Dante or Plato, I talk and discuss some more and head for Heinlein - grab Starship Troopers and The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, tell him not to think about any movie about any book - books are always better. He is still oriented a bit towards the classics, been talking to others, and wants to look at Moby Dick and a Dickens or two. So I show him a Classic condensation with illustrations of Moby Dick and walk him over to Dickens and grab the Christmas Carol - since Nicholas Nickleby is way too thick for starting out. I then talk a bit more, another inmate slides a book about reading for self education towards him (now where did that book come from?) and recommends it -- there are no private conversations in prison, every thing is monitored. But that is one of the great things about real readers - they are always willing to share their books just like Oprah (yes, I mentioned her book club - he thinks he might like to join one in the prison). I do go back to the Great Books shelf and find Melville and Moby Dick, or The Great White Whale. So he thanks me and hopes he can talk to me again later and my day is done, it won't get any better than that, all twenty minutes of nudging him into reading and hoping I have picked books that will make him come back for more. I stop at my internet computer and add a couple of self study books for purchase, and the ones that were recommended by Bob to add to the next book cart.

By the end of the day, as I work to clear the paper shredder jamming (when you don't buy it you don't care for it lovingly) and wish my request for labels and removable tape had been filled and decide I will have to purchase them with my own money, since it seems the Governor lost all of hers, where do the dollars go? by the end of the day, I mention to one of the old library workers (a fine large hunk of a man - okay, potential thug or gentle giant) that I had a great fifteen minutes today - out of the eight and a half hours, and he understood. Yeah, I will have to remember that because they aren't often enough, but they are golden.

Posting will be light....

I am working on getting a sexy hard body, and that takes time away from the monitor and back on the road work and heavy bag (sure, like I have a heavy bag some where). Tam mentions a book I should find and read to figure out why I might not make it through the next gun fight -- -Jim Cirillo; Guns, Bullets, and Gunfights, and Frank James spoke highly of him so two recommendations from those fine folks is enough, I am so far behind. Well, got to go - breakfast gruel and silly exercises call, what one does for love, sigh.

Gosh, what was all the fuss about?

Friday night and I am alone, packing for the weekend. I bought some new work shirts, six, two colors of blue, work trousers four pair, I will wear them out in the wash more than in the work, but that happens when one isn't using the rocks by the stream to beat the wash out once a week, love washing machines. My wife laughed that all the new clothes look the same - I will change the ties, although if I really found four or six that were the same but basically perfect - I would be wearing them all the time. Black paisley, in silk?

I checked our financial situation, and thank you investors in Wall Street, our mutual funds and some other investments are going up in price, like gasoline. I am sure that Washington DC would like me to blame their efforts in the corrections, but I figure the Chinese are buying in while things are cheap. The more they own of our souls the harder it will be to say NO to them, but they are still Communists thugs aren't they? Don't buy real estate in Taiwan. For sure it wasn't the twenty extra bucks (forty in two worker families) that showed up in our paycheck. Remember that, at the next Tea Party - the government does understand that reducing taxes does stimulate the economy - they also know if they don't keep their fingers around your throat that you might start to think you are boss, and they wouldn't like that. They do want you to petition the government, not tell them what to do and when, just ask them nicely and they will see if they can help. Anyway, we are a few thousand dollars ahead of the debts, better and better. But then our home wasn't in an Economic Crisis - just those real smart types in the big cities, they don't buy their clothes at Dickies.

Lots of Appleseeds going on across the nation this weekend, and we will work on everyone's safe shooting and paper punching perfections - hope to see lots of Riflemen recorded for our Nation's future. This is one of those special weekends: April 19th, 1775 is to be remembered the day that your neighbors stood up to the terrible government that was trying to snatch their leaders and take away their cannon, ammunition and military stores (and we can't even have machine guns now without a tax stamp - and our founding fathers had cannons of their own?). I do so think that everyone should read deeper into the Revolutionary War - it was not something to gloss over, it was a painful birth of a new independent nation, one without a King, one where you would be what you could make of yourself. Yep, good shooting out there and have a safe weekend, hope the farmers get the temperatures they need for planting and all those you love are safe and healthy, no matter where in the world they serve, y'all sleep sound for somewhere our service people are on watch and awake and aware to protect us.

Get the young into the woods, not virtually...

You know what derivatives are? They are a bet by a banker, and they don't call them bets because they are bankers and they don't gamble, although they take some risks - and then want bailed out when their risks go bad. My point is that urban living and technology have deprived the young of the romps in the woods, I don't think many are manning a trap line for money, I helped a friend on his when I could (pre-1964) - us city slickers didn't know how many muskrats were around to trap. modern man (Me?) seems locked into Super Market bargain shopping, and my father (as a boy) brought squirrels home for the pot, my grandfather introduced me to picking bird shot out of pheasants. So I thought about that Master Hunter program of Washington State, and translated it into German immediately, JaegerMeister. Which someone remembers is a fine alcoholic beverage. That isn't it and I was looking at it for the wrong reasons (those German dinner jackets are so cool), I just wanted another excuse to go shoot the best I could. They do want you to qualify with your hunting weapon. Well, I was oriented yesterday in Olympia and I am really happy with the program. So I am sending in my application today, and after church I went to try my hand at the rifle qualification and passed the off hand at fifty yards, but not the hundred yard one, yet. See, I am only in it for the challenges and am willing to work on passing all of the requirements. Then the fun stuff comes along, assisting in hunter educations, repairing elk fences, chasing strays (city folks keep moving to the woods), and wildlife projects . I am big on hunting, just not on being a blaze orange target during season and I really like the idea of helping young men learning how to shoot safely and hunt with care the land and its bounty.

What I learned at work today...

Newsweek has another bright red cover, and declares that Obama has a Confidence Game going... working with inmates that always have a confidence game going I knew I recognized the entire Economic Stimulus Program as one of the biggest Confidence Games going... but I won't be the sucker, I didn't sign the promissory notes, nor vote on passage of the total foolish package. President Obama should have lined out the bad parts and sent it back. Not to worry, it doesn't matter to the inmates nor I.

Lots of good work done in the library, and the crowning point of my day was during the last thirty minutes. I got called a name, okay, not such a big deal, but I like being called Earl and I don't like being called "Boss" not by my crew or anyone else trying to "con" me (not that President Obama ever could - doesn't he smoke?) anyway an inmate approached and said "Jefe, the other Jefe over there said I had to make it right." and I was laughing in my heart so hard it cracked my best grin out over my face. I fixed his status so he could borrow books again and went over at closing and talked to that other Jefe about our new titles - and he denied he was a Jefe... I don't like Mexican and Mexican-American gangs, but I do like real people doing the best they can, more Mexican readers the better. Another Absent Father wants some good books on Creative Ways to teach his children ABCs and Numbers, and now I am, too. Good day, better night.

Economic Stimulus passed in Earl's era... and area

Well, the President wasn't doing it, the Treasury wasn't doing it, Congress grilled the Banker Boys (soon to be replaced by women!) about busying the bucks Bush blew their way, and HR 45 hasn't died a decent death (stomped deep into the mud works for me) --- so I went and stopped at the local retailer and looked for new shoes, bought two pair and that should be my fair share. The economy should be shaken and stirred now. One pair made in China and one pair made in Vietnam, help the W.O.G.s out of their slow down.

I came home and found my package from USAMidway, with 5 rd clips (2 ea), spotting scope (1 ea) and a Master Catalog #32 (dare I open it?). Wife was away, I heat the soup and wonder why my brother lives in a city with nut cases in charge of schools and fears of tape, wood and looks like a weapon of massive destruction.

I do know that everything the government regulates slows progress down - how fast can you go through an intersection with blinking red lights, as opposed to one with a timed signal, depends on the time of day, doesn't it? Just trying to read the instructions for the tax code a perfect example, that is a government program and a true performance indicator. Now, if you want to get the economy going - get a job, start a business (do both even better), buy essentials and something special for those you love and care for, go to bed, get up every day and repeat. You don't need credit to do this (nice to be able to borrow, but...) the economy is really the movement of goods and services, having real money and sound credit make it easier than bringing home an elephant you traded your labor for. If Newsweek and the new improved, ignoring the Constitution, government of President Obama think that socialism is the wave I want to ride - they aren't leading me anywhere -- and I don't push well either, old cranky man to be avoided. We have a Department of Education, and the high school graduates have more sex than I did at their age - but gosh, I had a real education and a future without having to try Community College - I didn't really have to do the first two years of college in 1972 when I started thinking about it, I could pass all the courses offered. But then the Federal government didn't have an education department - are we and y'all sure the government can handle this crisis? or are they going to make noise and allow us to fix it?

Remember: get a job, start a business (do both even better), buy essentials and something special for those you love and care for, go to bed, get up every day and repeat.

I miss basic training... or boot camp...

One was hiding in a herd of others and just had to keep moving at the Drill Sergeant's pace to graduation. When I was looking to buy a semi automatic rifle I thought about the M14 (currently known as the M1A) the one I had carried in Basic, Leadership Preparation Course, Advanced Individual Training, Officer Candidate School (Fort Benning's School for Boys) and then to my first overseas tour, Korea. Hmm, when did the M16 creep into my military life? Vietnam for sure, but weren't we still armed with M14s for the funeral details in Oklahoma and Texas in 1969? Not sure, maybe it will come to me - tomorrow, when it won't be fleeing furiously.

I could have purchased the M1A Springfield, but I have the DVDs Band of Brothers, Finding Private Ryan and Flags of Our Fathers, and the real kicker was Billy Jack had one in one of his movies (no I don't remember which). If you had asked the real reason, it wasn't particularly romantic - I was never a fan of shoot and spray - having never met hordes of the Kahn's Mongol Pony Soldiers and Chinese Red Army folk in mass attacks. And I was convinced that the twenty round box magazine was always in my way when I wanted to get close to the ground and still shoot my rifle, it was always in the way and I do like to hug the ground when fired upon... until I had to fix bayonet and charge, screaming a rebel yell (like that ever happened in this lifetime). So I did everything to get a fine M1 from the CMP folks, with bullets and instructions.

They didn't ship a Drill Sergeant to teach me properly, and so until recently I have had the most terrible time loading two cartridges into the clip for placing in the rifle. In military training, the assumption is you don't know anything and fear will set your mind free for filling with the finer points of military madness. Yep, it does work, I have been on both sides of the training. You have over a week of weapon training without bullets, carrying it everywhere, learning how to keep from hitting the soldier next to you with the rifle while marching forward and rear, right flank and left (and obliques for the Marines - so old school). You do exercises to sweat with it, you do tear down and assembly and name all the parts, and find the ones you think you can't put in upside-down (most you can't but some are made so you can but shouldn't). Any way I had fired on several ranges and over a couple hundred rounds and still didn't KNOW how to load two rounds, so I went back to the books. In the fine little pamphlet that came with my rifle, U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, M1 : READ THIS FIRST! was, on page 14, was TO LOAD A PARTIAL CLIP, and I read it and went and got the rifle and two dummy rounds and a clip, and practiced - something a Drill Sergeant would have had me do long before those first round down range on the twenty-five yard range... ah, I can do it well now, especially since I didn't have to invent a way to make it happen it really does work. Thank you, Mister Garand, another easy step on the way to becoming a much better American Rifleman.

Economic Stimulus... in real time and effect...

The American Corrections Association auditor dropped by with the Associate Superintendent of Programs, and I got to try and wow him with my wonderful library and what we do for the prison population. I guess I did alright, seems I was mentioned in the outbriefing (which I didn't attend, since I do have a library to keep) for the evidence of a fine library well used. That was nice.

Today I had six inmates on the Call Out for testing and Job interview at 9:10 AM. I prepared ten test packets and got the other three workers on the normal Thursday work. I have only one open position and I really want the best worker for the job. I know one will be late since he has to see the medics first, and one of those coming has a position in the Chapel Library and wants to stay there and he looks a little older than I (only my opinion but he does) so I allow him to return to his work without a test. My workers do tell me about one of the names on the list - and identify him as a page cutter, and show me an example of his most recent ripping out an article from Men's Health. No, I am not allowed to shoot him on sight - probably why they don't allow me to pack pistols in prison. I have four people to test and interview, so I pass out pencils and tests and go back to prepare for the interview.

The first one done is an old worker, trying to get back into a job in this library and away from the terrible Corrections Officer that supervises him. I guess I am much easier, he passes the test without missing any of the answers, but he sure did get creative in reducing the number of pencil strokes to answer the questions. I interviewed him first, and used my "wake up and tell me who you really are" questions. I like to think all those promotion boards I sat upon have sharpened my pointed prying at the joints in the armor, it could be painful if I don't find out now about problems later. Then I relax, explain and we discuss a bit, and since he and I have some knowledge about each other - I tell him about my concerns over his weaknesses in his past performance, I am sure that hurt a bit but he can figure a better way to be, and I expect he will.

The second inmate comes in with his test and pencil and explains that he isn't qualified for the job, since the minimum education is a GED and he hasn't finished his yet. He has a body, and face full of tattoos, no minimum education and looks like a thug in size and shape of muscles - but I like the honesty and good manners in his voice. So I tell him to take a seat and talk about how he should get that GED finished and come back again, or get an even better job. I think Life has now gotten his attention, and he is looking for better ways of living.

The third man in is the page ripper, and I grade his test finding fourteen errors - it is almost like you really have to try and be that bad, but I think he just isn't as smart as the man with all the tattoos - and from his surly attitude during the interview I couldn't see hiring him ever. Still the job interview is always a teaching point for each inmate's future so I talk to him about presentation, answers to questions that would be better and wish him well on his next attempt to find work. Funny, if I were still an Army Drill Sergeant I would have marked this one for running off - not tough nor smart nor responsive enough to become a better soldier with more time and trouble. But I am not a Drill Sergeant and there isn't anywhere to get run off to, this is the end of a line in life that hasn't worked, so change directions and get with the program.

Fourth man comes back from his medical appointment, takes the test and I grade it with only two mistakes, he went a bit too fast and jumped a cutter, and reversed the answer. He also knew it immediately when we talked about it. He was awake for my questions, answered well and wants the job, because he doesn't have one, he worked in the library at another prison but didn't get enough hours, so didn't get paid enough so he changed jobs. He would do fine, so I will make my recommendation to the Job Center, telling them the first and second choice, explaining the selections and any problems I had during the Call Out - two no shows means something wasn't as it should have been. By the end of the day I still haven't any idea which of the two I would hire is going to be assigned to this position; for some good news waiting isn't that bad.

The inmates get forty-two cents an hour, my crew gets about forty-four dollars a month to buy their stuff with. For real staff (like myself) there is a better pay scale and the opportunity to pay taxes and earn a retirement and have health and dental care, two positions open, just not on my island in My Library, until I win the Lotto. It is all about me, ya know?

Won't he ever grow up? I mean, sixty-one?, reading...

Stayed up to finish Starship Troopers, again. Did I learn anything new? was there something I missed the first twenty times I read it? Is it that different than any other "young man going to war for all the wrong reasons" story? Well, I do know I still like the story and I figure I will read it again some day - given enough time, and yes, it was worth the loss of sleep staying up till after midnight. I mean it is not like I have a life that I have to participate in at that time - the time the infomercials start to crawl across the television as they figure out the lost are all that are watching. I was listening to the Blues for background, I do have some taste. Clayton Tait did the artwork, which is not Mobile Infantry but Space Marines from Warhammer 40K.

Just a note before bedtime...

I am starting to feed on Starship Troopers, again, and before I took up the book I browsed on the old, old high school year books, and looked at the rifle teams and clubs - and didn't see any punks and future denizens of the prisons system. Wonder why? Those young men and women were handling rifles in school, after class and in conjunction with other activities, sports and learning. They did all right in the rest of their lives, too, college good jobs, professions, families and community service . Very successful, so why can't we have guns in schools now? All chidren must be left behind?

They are stealing pages from the books in the library!

I am almost to the point that I am going to put a sign on the door "Stupid People steal pages from free books and magazines, so don't come in if you are STUPID!" but my supervisors won't allow it.

It is brought to mind because of non attribution abounds on the Internet.

From View From The Porch and the munchkin wrangler, their take on the theft of stealing from the person that did the work...

Me, I see the books with missing pages, pictures and information, books I have to remove and destroy... it probably started with school work one was too lazy to research and cite properly. Or it is just "everybody does it" and they look at you as though you are a fool because you don't do it or don't understand how easy it is to become 'Everybody'. It isn't your fault you are bad.

I do know, that when I pick up a weapon, and follow all the rules, good advice and engage a target - it doesn't help me if I tried to lift Breda's performance from her last range visit - nope, that instant of target, trigger, bullet and I - is all my fault and I had better make my Mother proud.

Who were Sunshine Patriots?

I went to learn to teach, and did. Then I taught and that was also great. After four days of intense Revolutionary War Veterans Association, I have that April 19, 1775 stuff cold. Speaking of which it was snowing and chilled and wet muddy ground to lay prone upon. So I leave you with one of the new Riflemen, earned on the last shoot of her day.

She became a citizen of the United States on Thursday, became the Rifleman on Sunday and the only thing I suggested to her was that she try the kneeling position, she locked it. One of her group was from South America a bit ago, said he could never have spent a day shooting in his original country - the weapons are controlled, but then the ballot box probably is, too.

Safety is always prime importance, so I never got to shoot just help, and we broke a bit early for ice storms approaching - thanks Governor Palin, I did get on the highway early enough to make it almost home. Then the Air Force rent-a-cops closed off my shortcut and I had to travel three times as far on iced roads. Didn't bother me as much as all those folks spinning out and into ditches. Home is a really great place to be, hope everyone makes it home safely, and thanks for having me at a really great event, but I am going into hibernation, until the flowers bloom.

1960 School Office Window

Who me? Been there and done that, have the t-shirt

You Should Be Allowed to Vote

You got 15/15 questions correct. Generally speaking, you're very well informed. If you vote this election, you'll know exactly who (and what) you'll be voting for. You're likely to have strong opinions, and you have the facts to back them up.

Poetry day in the library...

I know, no one really understands poetry - which is why Rap works for them that don't want to strain to understand. No, I really don't listen to Rap, and cannot say it isn't music nor poetry - if I had heard it I might say that, but I haven't. Still, one of my inmate workers wanted to know which poet said something like "To strive, to seek, to find, and..." or something like that. I have Google and I found it quickly and was amazed at how the poem spoke to me. That guy was almost me telling my story.

I am a big follower of Kipling, and e.e.cummings and Kim Addonizio but I am always willing to listen and read another that someone finds fine and listen to another melody in life's verses. So this should be on my epitaph - it won't be, too many words for the veterans marker, but if I think it should be required reading for all Social Security applicants, it would be a fine tribute to what I thought of this older elder me.

Tho' much is taken, much abides;
and though We are not now that strength
which in old days Moved earth and heaven;
that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

Yes, I am still working in the prison library...

Travelling Librarian Award

An award jointly sponsored by the ESU and The Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) is granted each year to a professionally qualified librarian working in British libraries or information centres. The programme is designed to encourage US/UK contacts in the library world and the visit is for two weeks and normally takes place in the autumn.

The 2008 travel grant has been awarded to Sibylla Parkhill from HMP, Bronzefield who will travel to the US in Autumn 2008.

Washington State Library (ILS) is hosting her visits to four of our Institutional Library branches next week, I think she is in Maryland this week touring. I received the clearance yesterday and the coordination has been made. Weather permitting and the creek don't rise it should be very interesting. We are doing better at making sure the world knows that the Institutional Library Services exist and what a fine job we are doing. I should inform the Superintendent and his Associates that she is coming, he saw me on the steps taking mail down and asked how the Book Business was - I told him it was great, we had six hundred plus circulation yesterday with the reduced evening open hour, that is a good thing.

As the Appleseed Shoot comes closer...

The rains have really returned, the Sun leaves our gray cloudy skies sooner and gets up later, making me wish to hibernate under the warm comforter. Nice name for such an essential sleep covering. I am preparing for shooting, took the M1 down on Sunday after church, using the copy of an old FM 23-5 from 1965. The pictures weren't clear enough but I was on a roll, skipping the lunch and the football games for the finer fitting of the steel pieces of the rifle. I moved on to "The M1 Garand Complete Assembly Guide" by Walt Kuleck with Clint McKee. They did have much better detailed pictures and a complete understanding that I would end up taking it apart and putting it together in my own sequence one day - everyone does.

I do go to work and spend quality time with my wife, and still the rifle calls to me. I have much to do in dry fire, more familiarity and immediate action drill. I do get over treating the rifle like a lady, my machine gun instructor would be proud of my remembering that it is only steel and will take a little slapping around and prodding. Once I have its attention I can start to hold gently but firmly and nuzzle close and squeeze gently. Wonder why Davy Crockett called his rifle "Ol' Betsy"? Well, I don't, but then I haven't come to the point of needing a name or personification to seduce it to better behavior while I am shooting, yet. No symbols of power to paint nor carve into it, no lucky underwear to never wash but always wear, haven't gotten that close nor that good that any little extra would work wonders. I am only going to punch paper the best I can.

Appleseed Shoot, 18-19 October, Sun Valley Shooting Park, Yakima, Washington. Now that is important and the check has already cleared the bank so I am committed. Washington will have the Absentee Ballots printed on the 15th of October - will I have mine before or after my wonderful weekend. Aside from bullets and rifles, sleeping bag and food and drink (water, folks I am shooting!) I will bring the Bible, the books on Service Rifle shooting and the M1. One may not have time to read again, but reference materials are better where the questions are than locked in a library far away.

Well, the world almost came to hear our talk...

Went to Olympia, the Red Lion Hotel to the WALE conference to give our presentation. The organization was wonderful, and completely helpful, I started thinking I was special and then noticed they were very nice to everyone (have I been working with bad guys too long?). I took in two presentations before lunch and then had a nice light lunch, and was asked if I was interested in writing something about working in a prison library for ALKI magazine. I told them that they would have to see my bosses, my reputation for bad word choice and attitude wouldn't help.

We set up, and there was a computer and projector and I found our ILS blog site, so we could show our visitors that we were entering the electronic age. Kathleen had about ten books, one of which she would try to sell, a picture of a chain bus and escorting vehicles, bibliographies of Mental Health Institution and Prison books, fiction and non fiction. There were tables of laminated newspaper articles and our esteemed senior secretary Rändi was video taping the entire presentation and questions. We were ready and our audience came in - your friends are always there for support, aren't they, sure enough if they knew who we were, they came to see the performance wishing us well. I was beginning to believe that no one else would be interested in institutional libraries and the role we play in preparing our patients and inmates for returning to the outside world. But we did get some visitors from the State Library, and from other area libraries, so I didn't feel like I was only preaching to the choir.

Kathleen started out and warmed up, I took my turn and back and forth we talked, answered questions and told tales. The important message of our pride in our work was laid out, the need for more staff, that our job does change lives because we take the time and do it right. Only the second time we have presented the message and it changed a bit, especially since we were answering questions as they were asked about things that needed some clarification, seems like I had extra words that were fit this time that had been too few before. We hurried and cleaned up and talked on our way out, I went to another session on how to find good medical reference resources on the Internet. I was still concerned about the presentation and its effect. I left the conference saying good-bye to Richard on my way out. One of those nice young ladies that had been making me feel special gave me a book bag full of goodies to remember them by.

The rains are back and I was in the Caravan on I-5 during the commute, so I pull off and go to Cabela's to pick up some important stuff for riflemen, a military leather sling 1 1/4", and dummy rimfire rounds, they were out of 30-06. And don't ask them about shooting coats or jackets - they seem to have the trap, skeet, hunting camouflage and blaze orange covered, but real shooting coats were not in evidence (get them online). I was given a military discount, but the sales tax is almost 9%, so the shopping was great - and the buying just enough.

Old people should learn something every day...

It is good to feel like you know everything you need to know, or if you don't know it (go to the reference librarian and ask) it isn't really worth knowing anything about. But I learned something, about shooting, that I realized when it was seriously offered as a solution I didn't know but did need to get on it - the next trip to the range. Seems I haven't been as open eyed as I thought I was. Most of Sight picture and Sight Alignment I could quote and I could yawn listening to that young soldier talk about it. But when he talked about his coach telling him that he shut his eyes during his shot, and that was why he didn't see the brass ejecting, he had an answer for better follow through that worked for him. And that gem is one of the best I am going to treasure and polish. Go forth and do likewise!