I know I haven't written in awhile, but I have been insanely busy with work lately, and very busy planning a 3 year old girl's birthday party. Do you have any idea how much thought is required for said birthday party? We have eye patches to buy (pirate theme), bouncy houses to rent, pinatas to stuff, and guest lists to comprise.

Anywho, I attended the ICOLC spring conference in Fisherman's Wharf a few weeks ago. It was a smashing success, but most importantly I went on the Internet Archive Tour in the Presidio. I got to meet Brewster Kahle and see all the geeky things involved with digitizing books, including the Espresso (?) book printing Machine. The press printed and bound a book in 10 minutes flat, and it was most awesome to see it done through the see-through encasing.

I also got to see a rack of pedabytes (see left or above however this text wraps). I believe a pedabyte is a million gigabytes. wow! Also, did you know that they digitize something like 1,000 books a week at the Internet Archive. I heart the Internet Archive.

I'm just getting around to last month's BAM challenge. March's theme was "Craft." Since I am a knitter and a seamstress, I think I read enough books about crafting, so decided to apply the theme loosely to this month's selection. I chose to read, The Sewing Circles of Herat by Christina Lamb. I chose this book because I am very interested in Afghanistan, its people and culture. I also read Kabul Beauty School last month and was very disappointed in the writing and storyline. So, I was pleased that Lamb offered a better presentation of the Afghani people and their history.

This book is written from a journalistic view, and takes place over a period of years. Lamb explores the effect of war and the Taliban on this country, its people -particularly women- and it's culture. This book is a must read.

This month's BAM challenge was to read a book that involves the heart. I chose Snow Flower and the Secret Fan which is also the January/February pick for SFPL's On the Same Page: San Francisco Reads program. It is an unconventional love story of sorts, and is really quite tragic.

This story takes place in 19th century remote China, and it tells of the long-standing friendship between two women, Lily and Snow Flower, and their place in society. The story is also about the abuse that women endure in the form of arranged marriages, footbinding, and the pressure to produce sons. Though illiterate in men's writing, the women in this book learn to communicate through Nu Shu, their own form of written language, and their only form of empowerment. I strongly recommend this book, though the excerpts about footbinding are not for the squeamish.

Just finished a new purple sweater for the Rubester. It was a tough one because she never wanted to sit for fittings, but somehow it all worked out, and I just got the buttons on tonight. One project down, 2598 to go.....

I read A Handbook to Luck by Cristina Garcia for this month's Book A Month Challenge. In case, you don't know about Book A Month, it's a virtual sort of Book Club created by a librarian. Each month she posts a theme, then we all read a book that relates to said theme, and then we all post on her Book a Month blog and/or on our own blog/site. This month's theme is time.

So, A Handbook to Luck relates to time in that it takes place over a 20 year time period. The theme can be as loose as having time in the title, as long as we all read a book and write about it.

Now, down to business. This is not the first book I have read by Garcia, but it is certainly the most memorable. Her characters are so funny and real, and the story so absorbing. The story begins with her three main characters as children in their points of origin (Cuba, El Salvador, and Iran) and over the years, their lives cross in the US. Garcia's language and description makes for an enjoyable read. I highly recommend this book to Cristina Garcia fans, and for those that don't know her, should read Dreaming in Cuban as well.

I had a great time in Philadelphia last weekend. I managed to fit in a visit with my friend Tiffini, a librarian friend from a past life, go bowling, go to a karaoke event that featured indie and punk songs, feed my pen fetish in the exhibit hall, visit some vendors, see some new products, eat some good food (those Amish pancakes are quite tasty), go to several ARL events, and make some new friends. However, there was a low point when I accidentally ate at the very apparently xenophobic cheesesteak joint in the city. Argh. I should have picked up on the fact that they served "freedom fries." I should also have noticed the blaring patriotic music which was somewhat bearable, until they started playing some song about "English being the language of thewhole United States." I don't know if it was the meat, or the song that gave me the stomach ache. I'm betting though that it was the song and the very, very wrong place. It's very disappointing to see a place like this thrive, and it does. Does nobody else notice this, do they all subscribe to this belief, or are they just happy to eat their cheesesteaks? ugh.

I'm getting excited about ALA Midwinter in Philadelphia. I'm flying out on Thursday morning. Maybe it's because I am still so new to the profession, but I really love mass takeovers by librarians on unsuspecting cities for the purpose of discussing all things library related, to schmooze with other librarians, go to all the decadent parties (though I think vendors really should cut back on these crazy parties and pass the savings on to the libraries), and to pick up some really cool swag. Yes, I sure love library conferences.

I don't know much about Philly other than the lore about cheesesteaks, us history, and the Rocky scene. So, I go armed with only one tidbit to help me order cheesesteak like a local. You have to ask for Wiz Wit'. That means, you want a cheesesteak with fried onions (that's the wit' part, or with for all you non-philadelphians) and cheese Whiz, but provolone would be a perfectly acceptable substitute. I wonder what kind of response I would get if I asked for seitan instead of meat?

Anywho, I am currently reading Handbook to Luck by Cristina Garcia. This may be my Book A Month Challenge choice instead of the Janissary Tree. Don't get me wrong, I really liked the Jannisary Tree by Jason Goodwin. I just like Garcia's book better. I'll talk more about that later.