Library, Librarians and Wine

Yes, I do have some new pictures. I know you are all expecting it, and have been waiting a lot. But the books are taking my time. Talking of which, I will dedicate today's accounts to the three librarians in my life: Gilda, Char and Marne. Also, to my English speaker friends.

Ok, here is an ironical situation in my life. Gilda, you know, how many times have I told you I should be a librarian? And how about wanting to come to Athens and look for a job at the library? I did – not become a librarian, but look for a job. Didn't get it. Instead, I was supposed to work for some professors last quarter. It turned out that this quarter I got a different scholarship and a new job: The Latin American Program Director's Assistant. Together with that, in the same package, some hours of work for another professor, and guess what? Some hours of work at the library. Only 4 hours a week, but that is a start! Who knows?

Those shelves I used to love hang out with... well, there are so many now! I don't even know where to start from. I have been hanging out on either the 6^th or 7^th floor of the library. That's where I get the Women's Study, History and Literature books, and, every now and then, sit on the floor between the shelves – or on those nice stools just like the ones at EABH – and appreciate some good readings. By the way, do you think that is allowed, Marne?!

I have also been doing something that is not allowed there – I guess it is sort of an idiosyncrasy of mine – that is to eat in the library. Detail: I do that hidden from the librarians. Some of them end up saying it is ok! Maybe because they know I am polite and will not spread, what ever it is, all over the place. Right Gilda and Char?!

This reminds me of people who still things in or from the library. I have heard – never saw, and can assure that is not me – some people still just for the pleasure. That is called cleptomania. I have also heard about people stilling books in the library. There are several stories:

At UFMG, the university I took my undergrad course – nice place, by the way, and if you allow me a little bit of homesickness, I miss that place... - people used to take books from the shelf and throw them through the window. The result of that: bars on the windows.

How about people who collect old books. Very smart people! You know, first and rare editions are really expensive. What this particular person did was not return the book. Simple like that. Obviously the fine for a lost book is much cheaper then any first edition of our canons.

Nowadays libraries have alarms, bars – unfortunately not the ones where you can have beer, or a nice glass of wine, because, honestly, that is one of the perfect matches in life: books and wine or beer; I am talking about the ones on the windows and the ones with codes – they became very high-tech places. I miss the time we had these cards where the date due was stamped, and it went inside a pocket, which in turn was inside the book. At school we used to have the library competition. Who read more books in a year would win. Actually there wasn't any prize, except for the nice label a great reader gets at school: nerd!

You probably thought about the perfect matches in life. Am I right? Here you go:

black and red, beer and fries, moon and a kiss, bed and massage, bathtub and music, candles and wine, onion soup and rice, banana and peanut butter, you and me.

I guess everyone has lots of items to add to the list. Wanna try? Be carefully, this is a PG Blog! Kids might be reading. I expect my students to do so, and perfectly!

Enjoy!
Love yall!

Next issue: Tree climbers and Llamas chasing people. Soon on a computer next to you!