Thng 15

I have played computer games in the past. I do not have my own computer so I did not play the suggested ones, but I have played at my kids' homes. I find them addicting and prefer to do other things although I know they are popular with younger kids, many of them use our library.

High School Track and Field

I love track and field. My son is on his school team and I have been attending all his track meets for the past four years. I love the cameraderie in the stands with the other parents and grandparents. I cheer for all the kids on the team, not just my son, and I even have a few favorites on the teams we regularly compete against. Don't tell my son.
My favorite event is the 4x400m relay. My son runs it but that's not the reason I love it. There is something special about this last race of the day. Many of the spectators have already departed so the faithful gather at the fence near the finish line. Staying for the last race is for the hardy. Sometimes the weather is cold, sometimes it's raining. Sometimes the sun has already set and the kids are running under the lights. Sometimes it is cold AND raining AND dark. All the other events are done and the teams often gather at the far curve to cheer their teammates on. As I heard a sports commenter say, "Everyone remembers the last race of the meet."
The 4x4 is different than the other relays. Everyone starts and ends at the same place. They do this in the 4x800m relay too but that race doesn't have the speed. With two laps for each runner, it isn't as exciting. The 4x100m has the runners ending their leg at the four corners of the field and the 4x200m runners end in two different places and both these shorter races are hard to follow because of the stagger start. It is hard to tell who is ahead until the final hand-off. But the 4x4 runners all and begin in the same place. They are there to cheer each other on as they start and call them home as they near the hand-off and they are all there to congratulate each other if they win and console each other if they lose. None of the runners have other events in which to compete now, all they have to do is cool down which they do as a team. Everyone else is packing up and heading for the bus but the 4x4ers are jogging around the field, cooling down, savoring their victory, and bonding as a team.
The parents and friends pack up and drive home, often happy for cars with working heaters. We'll talk about the meet with our kids later. We'll remember the 4x400m, the last, and best, race of the meet.

Thing 14

I have been browsing the LibraryThing site. I could spend a lot of time on this one, checking out the different groups. There is so much information here and I think I'll find the site useful. I loved the library stories. Libraries are definitely interesting places to work. I also signed up for one of the groups. There is much more exploring to do on this site, but later. I am at work now and I get to go home now.

Thing 13

I set myself up with a google calendar. I am lost without my daily planner. My life is in that book. I will try putting everything on the new calendar but I still plan to use my little book. I can see the advantage of the net calendar however, as my contacts can add to my calendar if they wish. Now I have to remember to check this calendar. My little book is almost always with me, the computer is not.

Thing 11, Thing 12

I am still plugging away at these 23 things. I created a delicious.com file and added all my favorite sites for easy reference. I'm not sure I'll use it however. By doing the 23 Things I have found websites of all kinds in addition to the sites I already frequent. It is a help to sort the ones I find useful but sometimes I just want to skip it all and go home to knit.

I also checked out the social media sites. I signed up for Mixx as it seemed to fit me best. Some of the postings on these sites could have benefited from a little polishing. I like the fact that the news isn't censored and I can get different view points. Maybe I'll even contribute something myself.

No Time

I am still trying to get to these dang "23 Things" but time is a problem. We are so busy all the time at our library that I don't get a chance to work on anything not involving our patrons. We are busier than ever since the economy has slowed and people are discovering that everything is free at the library! It is a challenge, however, to meet the growing needs of our patrons and have time for to learn new things. I am enjoying searching Facebook and MySpace for old friends. I wish there was more time.