a rant and some new photos.

halcyon days of summer - a photoset on Flickr


It's been ages since I've written anything, not for lack of interesting things to share. I just have had a hard time finding the time to sit and write. Being on strike, you'd think I'd have lots of time, and in reality I do. The problem is the being on strike is exhausting. There have been incredible highs: seeing how strong and creative my co-workers are; and incredible lows: reading misleading media quotes from the City's public relations mouthpiece.

It has been nice to spend so much time with Darren and Gus, going to the park, the beach, enjoying the sun. It has been a summer of discovery for Gus and for me. Gus talks constantly, in big sentences of up to 10 words (me no want this bottle milk me want other bottle milk), of course he usually has irrational requests (no mumma me want wet diaper on) or physical impossibilities (watch big tv cars watch big tv pingu - translation: he wants to watch 2 different dvds on the same tv).
I've also been reevaluating my career direction. The strike has caused me to wonder whether people really care much about public libraries. I've always felt that my job made a difference in peoples' lives, helping them find information to help them lead fulfilled informed lives. But I wonder now, since so many people claimed to be "unaffected" by the strike and the City and Library Management were never particularly interested in reopening the library in a timely fashion. I've also had the time to spend with my son, who is at such a precious age - he's learning more every day and is so much fun to be with - do I seriously want to work full time? at a job that seems so thankless?
I am hoping I'll see the point of it all once I get back to helping people again. In many ways I feel like I have connected more deeply with the community on the picket line than I ever could from behind a reference desk.
Changing careers... maybe I should just do something for the money. I certainly didn't become a public librarian for the money. Recently, I've thought about real estate, corporate librarianship, going to law school, or starting a business. How fulfilling would that be?
Or just work part time, struggle a bit (financially) and spend more time with Gus and say goodbye to a career for now. I don't know how easy it would be for me to watch the opportunities go by.

we'll see.

What to say about Gus and growing up? His favourite thng to do right now is wash his hands. He loves pulling the step stool into place, climbing up, and then having one of us turn the taps on for him. He yells "faster, mumma, faster" because I usually do not turn the water on high enough for him. He still loves watching Pingu and Thomas the Tank Engine. He can pretty much tell us everything he needs, but often asks for things he can't have. He's a typical two year old in that way, stubborn, likes to say 'no' but refuses to take 'no' for an answer. He enjoys the big boy bed immensely, and is usually pretty agreeable at bedtime. Unless it's Darren putting him to bed. Discipline is becoming a challenge, there is no reasoning with a two year old! He can be quite defiant at times and really doesn't like to hear "no" for an answer. I usually try to phrase "no" in another way - for example, instead of saying "no chocolate for breakfast", I tell him he can have an egg. It doesn't always work but it has a better track record than just an outright "no". I can always distract him by asking him if he wants to wash his hands...