The questioners are ready...
Now, the first question...
Why do so few librarians actually go berserk? It seems to me that they'd have good reason to, what with a steady flow of people wanting answers to questions other than the ones they actually asked, and the requirement to keep the noise level down.
Librarians kind of like their patrons, even the kooky or semi-homeless ones. The ones that get on my nerves I badmouth on my blog.
And we don't go around whispering all the time--we just try to keep it down to a dull roar.
You write a lot about your family, and also about Mr. Charm. Since you mentioned his Celtic heritage (I think), I'm wondering whether he is Jewish also? If not, how did family events go down?
Mr Charm has a lot of Irish in him. He made a paper conversion, and we agreed to raise the children Jewish. My mother coped by telling relatives he was Jewish, and not telling me about it. I still haven't unsnarled that one.
How did you manage to escape learning Russian from your mother and grandmother? This is very important to me, as I find myself picking it up from my husband and mother-in-law and would like to resist the Borg.
My mother and grandmother spoke Russian only when they didn't want me to understand them. I did learn Yiddish, though.
What made you settle on the topic addressed in your book? What is the major market the book is aimed at (college, history book club, etc)?
A friend was writing a book about black aviators and astronauts, and asked me to help her write some of it. I agreed. Only after I became acquainted with some of these people, some personally and by e-mail, some by reading about them, did I learn to appreciate them and their heroic endeavors.
What POSSIBLE good does a membership in the ALA do for a library, other than enforce rules that have no bearing on reality; especially in regards to children?
The ALA is a commie front. Actually, It consists of a bunch of leftoid ninnies with too much time on their hands.
Describe your perfect library.
I love all libraries, but my favorite is the British Library.
Beer or Wine?
I'm wine all the way. I have family in the wine business. Don't tell them, but my favorite is Manischevitz.
When is the last time you went to synagogue?
I went to synagogue this week, but I get no credit for that, it was Rosh Hashonah.
Can you sing the Israeli National Anthem without messing up?
I know the beginning of the Israeli anthem and the tune, and I can fake the rest.
How many hours a day do you spend blogging...really?
I spend maybe 2 hours a day blogging. No, I'm lying, I could spend 3-4 hours, then I get all blogged out.
What's the deal with the Dewey Decimal System, and why couldn't I understand it in high school?
Ah, the DDC. It's a secret, arcane code , designed to mystify mere mortals. Actually, it's just a way of putting books on the shelves in order, so we can find them when we need them. It doesn't work if some knucklehead puts the book in the wrong place.
Do you find yourself walking around your home after work and telling people to "Shhh!"?
I never said "Shhh!" I was a noisy librarian. Anyway, shushing went out with bustles.
What was your worst day blogging?
My worst day blogging was the day Blogger didn't work and my most precious insights were lost to posterity. Damn, I was brilliant that day!
What is your favourite book?
My favorite book is Middlemarch by George Eliot. After that come all the works of Jane Austen and Trollope.
What is the greatest mystery?
The greatest mystery--What are we doing here? Second greatest: how can liberals be so stupid?
What is your favorite song?
My favorite song is--omigod, do I have to pick one? How about the Trout, by Schubert? I love popular music too. And jazz.
Who is the greatest leader in the world today?
Bush is the best of a bad lot. I just wish he had Tony Blair's rhetorical skills.
What's the most Redneck / White Trash thing you've ever done?
My white trash moment of truth: my 15-year-old daughter had been hitchhiking with another girl, (without permission, may I add). The other girl turned up missing, and I ended up in the Sheriff's office in Ft Myers, FL, at midnight on a Sunday. Suddenly I found myself thinking, "What's a nice Jewish girl like me doing in a place like this?" Honest.
Where's the worth place you ever lived?
Worst place: Binghamton, NY.
If you could live anywhere that you haven't lived, where would you choose?
If I could live anywhere--despite the attitude of the French-- I would like to live in a small town not far from Paris. It's beautiful, and the food is good.
What's your favorite food?
Favorite food: chocolate anything.
What's your favorite vacation spot?
Favorite vacation spot: Anywhere but here. Truthfully, when I get away from home I leave my troubles behind, so any halfway decent place will do. London. Paris. The Berkshires. Buffalo, NY. You get the idea.
What TV sitcom best fits your life?
Is there a tv sitcom called "Warped'?
What's the worst idea you ever had?
Me, bad ideas? I'm a Jewish mother! I'm always right!
Seriously, I used to be a Democrat, but I got over it.
"The Sound of Music" or "The Music Man"?
I like the Music Man much the best -- the Robert Preston movie. Sound of Music is a little too sweet for me.
A big thanks to Miriam (Miriam's Ideas) for taking our questions. It was a delight.
Next week, we'll have interviews with William Teach (Pirate's Cove) and with Andrew McAllister, Ph.D. (To Love, Honor and Dismay).Today, we're delighted to have Miriam (Miriam's Ideas) taking our questions...
The questioners are ready...
Now, the first question...
Why do so few librarians actually go berserk? It seems to me that they'd have good reason to, what with a steady flow of people wanting answers to questions other than the ones they actually asked, and the requirement to keep the noise level down.
Librarians kind of like their patrons, even the kooky or semi-homeless ones. The ones that get on my nerves I badmouth on my blog.
And we don't go around whispering all the time--we just try to keep it down to a dull roar.
You write a lot about your family, and also about Mr. Charm. Since you mentioned his Celtic heritage (I think), I'm wondering whether he is Jewish also? If not, how did family events go down?
Mr Charm has a lot of Irish in him. He made a paper conversion, and we agreed to raise the children Jewish. My mother coped by telling relatives he was Jewish, and not telling me about it. I still haven't unsnarled that one.
How did you manage to escape learning Russian from your mother and grandmother? This is very important to me, as I find myself picking it up from my husband and mother-in-law and would like to resist the Borg.
My mother and grandmother spoke Russian only when they didn't want me to understand them. I did learn Yiddish, though.
What made you settle on the topic addressed in your book? What is the major market the book is aimed at (college, history book club, etc)?
A friend was writing a book about black aviators and astronauts, and asked me to help her write some of it. I agreed. Only after I became acquainted with some of these people, some personally and by e-mail, some by reading about them, did I learn to appreciate them and their heroic endeavors.
What POSSIBLE good does a membership in the ALA do for a library, other than enforce rules that have no bearing on reality; especially in regards to children?
The ALA is a commie front. Actually, It consists of a bunch of leftoid ninnies with too much time on their hands.
Describe your perfect library.
I love all libraries, but my favorite is the British Library.
Beer or Wine?
I'm wine all the way. I have family in the wine business. Don't tell them, but my favorite is Manischevitz.
When is the last time you went to synagogue?
I went to synagogue this week, but I get no credit for that, it was Rosh Hashonah.
Can you sing the Israeli National Anthem without messing up?
I know the beginning of the Israeli anthem and the tune, and I can fake the rest.
How many hours a day do you spend blogging...really?
I spend maybe 2 hours a day blogging. No, I'm lying, I could spend 3-4 hours, then I get all blogged out.
What's the deal with the Dewey Decimal System, and why couldn't I understand it in high school?
Ah, the DDC. It's a secret, arcane code , designed to mystify mere mortals. Actually, it's just a way of putting books on the shelves in order, so we can find them when we need them. It doesn't work if some knucklehead puts the book in the wrong place.
Do you find yourself walking around your home after work and telling people to "Shhh!"?
I never said "Shhh!" I was a noisy librarian. Anyway, shushing went out with bustles.
What was your worst day blogging?
My worst day blogging was the day Blogger didn't work and my most precious insights were lost to posterity. Damn, I was brilliant that day!
What is your favourite book?
My favorite book is Middlemarch by George Eliot. After that come all the works of Jane Austen and Trollope.
What is the greatest mystery?
The greatest mystery--What are we doing here? Second greatest: how can liberals be so stupid?
What is your favorite song?
My favorite song is--omigod, do I have to pick one? How about the Trout, by Schubert? I love popular music too. And jazz.
Who is the greatest leader in the world today?
Bush is the best of a bad lot. I just wish he had Tony Blair's rhetorical skills.
What's the most Redneck / White Trash thing you've ever done?
My white trash moment of truth: my 15-year-old daughter had been hitchhiking with another girl, (without permission, may I add). The other girl turned up missing, and I ended up in the Sheriff's office in Ft Myers, FL, at midnight on a Sunday. Suddenly I found myself thinking, "What's a nice Jewish girl like me doing in a place like this?" Honest.
Where's the worth place you ever lived?
Worst place: Binghamton, NY.
If you could live anywhere that you haven't lived, where would you choose?
If I could live anywhere--despite the attitude of the French-- I would like to live in a small town not far from Paris. It's beautiful, and the food is good.
What's your favorite food?
Favorite food: chocolate anything.
What's your favorite vacation spot?
Favorite vacation spot: Anywhere but here. Truthfully, when I get away from home I leave my troubles behind, so any halfway decent place will do. London. Paris. The Berkshires. Buffalo, NY. You get the idea.
What TV sitcom best fits your life?
Is there a tv sitcom called "Warped'?
What's the worst idea you ever had?
Me, bad ideas? I'm a Jewish mother! I'm always right!
Seriously, I used to be a Democrat, but I got over it.
"The Sound of Music" or "The Music Man"?
I like the Music Man much the best -- the Robert Preston movie. Sound of Music is a little too sweet for me.
A big thanks to Miriam (Miriam's Ideas) for taking our questions. It was a delight.
Next week, we'll have interviews with William Teach (Pirate's Cove) and with Andrew McAllister, Ph.D. (To Love, Honor and Dismay).
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