Creature Feature Part 2

We had a lot of strange animals in my library this summer.

Firstly we had those Ants and that stupid kitten back in June.  I really thought that would be the end of it, but NO, we invited more strange "guests" into the library for the Dig into Reading Summer Reading Kickoff.

The fine folks from ANIMALIA brought all sorts of weird critters into the library, much to the delight of children and grown-ups alike.  Oh, and one of the critters pooped, which is apparently a good thing for an animal program.

No one cheers and claps and giggles when I use my litter box, and I hope it stays that way.

Here are some of the animals that we got to learn about:

The first critter was a Weenie-dog, also known as a Dachshund.  AAB Karen has two of those things at home and I do not like them at all.

Mongoose the Dachshund

The second critter was a destinkified Skunk named Stoke.

The third pair of critters were Ferrets named Humboldt and Beluga.  They were really squirmy.

We got to meet Burrow the Prairie Dog, which isn't really a "dog" at all.  Burrow's whole life is a lie.  Poor Burrow.

Looks tasty.

The final critter that ANIMALIA presented was Sulcata, an African Spurred Tortoise who was ginormous.

FYI this is the Pooper.

The program was really fantastic and was enjoyed by all.  The ANIMALIA people did an excellent job teaching children and grown-ups about these neat digging animals.

Here's the thing, though.  There were EVEN MORE creatures in my library this summer!  I will tell you all about them in Creature Feature Part 3, which will be posted, you know, about a month after I say it will be posted.  I will keep on Blog Helper about her lack of Helping and see what we can do!

Oh, better let you see a Handsome Photo of ME, too, before I go:

Sunshiney Purrs,

Tober

PS Sulcata escaped from his enclosure near Thorntown a few weeks ago.  If  you live in Boone County or thereabouts and see what appears to be an enormous rock creeping through a field/along the side of the road/etc., please contact ANIMALIA.  They miss him!

Dots

AAB Kathy is working really really hard to prepare a new program for our small and medium-sized library visitors.  (These also tend to be the noisier visitors.)  She was inspired by AAB Britta's "Teen Crafternoon" program (which was probably ripped off from some other unsuspecting library, kind of like our 2011 Festival of the Turning Leaves float) to host a Crafternoon Jr.

One of AAB Kathy's crafts is a fall scene that requires lots of little paper dots for "leaves".  So she hole-punched and hole-punched and hole-punched until her paws were sore and put all of her dots in a little cup.

And left it on her desk.

For ME to find.

*nom nom nom*

I just had to investigate what was in that little cup. . . and I like to see things fall on the floor!  An accident happened when I did them both.

Whoops.

Since AAB Kathy was all mad and stuff, AAB Karen came in and picked up all of the little dots one by one.  (We couldn't use the sweeper because they were still needed for Crafternoon Jr.)

I don't know what everyone was so upset about.  It could have been glitter!

Here's the link if anyone wants to see the really cute craft that the children will be making.

Off to see what other interesting things I can find in staff offices,

Tober

The End of the Long Summer

I have really missed you, Blogging Friends.  I've been on a bit of an unannounced hiatus, haven't I?  I have spoken with AB Christine about her crumminess as a Blog Helper, for all the good it will do.

We have had a super-busy summer at the library, and I will do my very best to get everything caught up!  BUT, I'm going to work in reverse, since we had a bit of a ruckus here last night.

SOMEONE (or someones) thought it would be a Good Idea to have *ahem* a Teddy Bear Sleepover at my library.  Yes.  My staff invited complete and total strangers to spend the night in my HOME. 

How would you like it if someone invited a bunch of people to stay in YOUR home without your consent?  Yeah, that's about how much I liked the idea.

Well, all of the little buggers got dropped of between 3pm and 6pm yesterday.  They had to wear ID bands ('cause the can't remember their own names?) and their children signed permission slips so they could stay the night.  Here's the whole gang:

Notice that I am not in the photo.  I was NOT ready for a sleepover.  I was ready to sleep, which is very hard to do when there are eight barely-supervised (I'm talking about you, AAB Kathy) Stuffies running loose in the building.  Especially that Scooby one--he was LOUD going up and down the stairs!

Anyhoo, Benny, Chloe, Dotters, Hershy, Jellycat, Lola, Sad Panda, and Scooby-Dooby stayed overnight in the library (for the most part).  There were all sorts of Illegal Library Shenanigans going on, and I have the evidence to prove it!  See a slideshow of their activities below.

I decided that the Teddy Bear Sleepover wasn't a terrible idea after all, though it did interrupt my Handsome Sleep a bit.  I'll have to take a few extra naps today to recover.  Thank goodness tomorrow is Sunday--I can rest!

I hope you enjoyed our Teddy Bear Sleepover!  I'll try to upload some more pictures of ME next week.  AB Christine has a case of the Dumbs and can't seem to get any other photos to upload right now. 

I hope everyone is doing a-OK and has fantastic weekends!

Glad to be back in business,

Tober

Happy Anniversary, Dr. Jon!

This month my tormenter V-E-T, Dr. Jon Culbertson, is celebrating 25 years of putting thermometers where thermometers shouldn't go.

Yay.

Once a year (and only once a year, if I'm lucky), my posse travels to the Thorntown Veterinary Clinic to make sure I'm healthy, trim, alert and responsive, and able to continue eating treats at an epic rate.  Dr. Jon gets to gaze into my remarkable eyes, look at my pearly-white teeth, pet my luxurious furs, and *ahem* look at my immaculately clean hindparts.

Then he stabs me in the butt with a ginormous needle and AAB Karen gives him money.

Here he is with his minions:

Well, "minions" might be a bit strong.  "Apprentice evildoers" maybe.  "Henchmen" (and "henchwomen").  Hmmm.  I'll work on the terminology.

Anyhoo, he's the one on the right. He's probably in the middle of an evil laugh.

My posse tells me that it really isn't that bad and that I couldn't possibly find a better, nicer group of people to do all of the rude things that Dr. Jon and his staff  do to me. 

Then I show them this picture:

This is almost exactly like my Thunderboomer Face, only my pupils aren't quite as biggified. 

Oh, geez, now AB Christine is accusing me of being melodramatic. 

FINE.

Dear Dr. Jon and TVC minions Staff,

Congratulations on 25 years of poking, prodding, and stabbing poor helpless animals.  You are very good at what you do.  Thanks for being an awesome V-E-T and keeping me nice and healthy!

Purrs and headbutts (and a bite if you come near me with a thermometer),

Tober

PS They put pictures of the "Pet of the Day" on their Facebook page.  It's kind of fun to look at.  All of the dogs are like "Hey, yay!  I'm at the Vet!  I have no idea what's getting ready to happen to me!  Yay!  I rode in a car today!  Yay!" and the cats look a little more, uh, apprehensive.  Yep, we know what's up.

Special Delivery

So this was on page 8 in the May 15 issue of Library Journal:

At first I was a little worried about the author's sanity.  I mean, why would any library lucky enough to have a cat send it away?  And what is Michael Kelley going to do with all of the cats that show up at his place?  After I read the article, I learned that they just want photos and stories--and boy oh boy, do I have lots of those!

Library Journal, for those of you who don't have a human who works in the library biz, is a magazine that shows up a couple of times a month.  As you can see in the picture, it makes a really nice place to sit.  It also has articles about libraries and books and library people and all of that stuff.  Edge-of-your seat reading, second only to Cat Fancy.  Lots of pictures, too!

Well, apparently the very wise Mr. Kelley has decided that LJ (that's snazzy-speak for Library Journal) needs to get with the program and feature some Library Cats.

I am composing my brief bio this week.

I hope LJ is ready to bask in the glow of my Awesomeness,

Tober

PS:  This Saturday, June 8, is our Summer Reading Kickoff Day!  Come by from 10:00am to noon and sign up for summer programs and enjoy snacks and activities!  At 10:30 am there will be a very special "Can You Dig It?" animal program presented by the fine folks from ANIMALIA.  Stop by and join in the fun!