Category Archives: fun stuff

I can’t dance, but I can Gangnam.

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Last fall I went to my first college football game. Nothing big like Notre Dame or Ohio State but a Division 1 game featuring The University of Cincinnati Bearcats. Needless to say it, was a fun and great experience hanging out with some buddies and enjoying a Bearcat victory. Then all of the sudden, about midway through the first quarter, one of those dance music songs started playing during a timeout. You know, they do that sometimes to get people off their butts and shaking them in some way. I ignored it like all those other tunes because quite frankly I can’t dance and don’t want to. You will not see me doing the YMCA on the Jumbotron during a TV timeout at any sporting event. I am actually there for the game and not the music and dancing. But then I noticed everybody riding the pony during this song and thought, that’s a new one. I dismissed it and, quite frankly forgot it altogether.

So quietly this song, “Gangnam Style” (which I found out later is what it’s called from a coworker), is taking over my subconscious. It has now permeated through everything – MLB, NFL, Cyclones hockey, the library! – and is taking over my life. I find myself just randomly dancing “Gangnam Style.” If you don’t believe me, ask my family or even my coworkers. The song is stuck in my head forever, just like that classic, timeless Rebecca Black song, “Friday.”

The real question about this Korean music sensation is, is this only a Macarena-type fad, or is it here to stay like the YMCA or the Chicken Dance? It’s hard to say but the YouTube video has over a billion views -  that’s ONE BILLION – and if my information is correct, it is the first video to do so. I guess 1 billion people can’t be wrong. I say, long live PSY and “Gangnam Style.” I’m actually doing it right now and I’m terrible at it.

Celebrating Our Presidents

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In February we observe President’s day on the third Monday of the month. According to the federal government the Monday holiday is officially Washington’s Birthday. Many Americans believe that this holiday is now called Presidents Day, in honor of both President Washington and Lincoln, whose birthdays are in February. It turns out that whether you honor one or both of these men depends on where you live.
At the Amelia Branch we will be honoring all American Presidents during the month of February. There are 10 Presidential collages hanging in the Amelia branch. Come into the branch and see if you can guess the names of the ten presidents and receive a sweet treat.

How well do you know our Presidents? Check out this presidential trivia:

Eight Presidents were born British subjects: Washington, J. Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, J. Q. Adams, Jackson, and W. Harrison.

Presidents who would be considered “Washington outsiders” (i.e., the 18 presidents who never served in Congress) are: Washington, J. Adams, Jefferson, Taylor, Grant, Arthur, Cleveland, T. Roosevelt, Taft, Wilson, Coolidge, Hoover, F. Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Carter, Reagan, Clinton, and G. W. Bush.

The oldest elected president was Reagan (age 69); the youngest was Kennedy (age 43). Theodore Roosevelt, however, was the youngest man to become president—he was 42 when he succeeded McKinley, who had been assassinated. THE OLDEST LIVING former president was Gerald Ford, who was born on July 14, 1913, and died on Dec.27, 2006, at age 93. The second oldest was Ronald Reagan, who also lived to be 93 years.

The tallest president was Lincoln at 6’4″; at 5’4″, Madison was the shortest.

Eight left-handed presidents: James A. Garfield, Herbert Hoover, Harry S. Truman, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama.
Fourteen Presidents served as vice presidents: J. Adams, Jefferson, Van Buren, Tyler, Fillmore, A. Johnson, Arthur, T. Roosevelt, Coolidge, Truman, Nixon, L. Johnson, Ford, and George H.W. Bush.

James Buchanan was the only president never to marry. Five presidents remarried after the death of their first wives—two of whom, Tyler and Wilson, remarried while in the White House. Reagan was the only divorced president. Six presidents had no children. Tyler—father of fifteen—had the most.

Presidents Adams, Jefferson, and Monroe all died on the 4th of July; Coolidge was born on that day.
Kennedy and Taft are the only presidents buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Lincoln, Jefferson, F. Roosevelt, Washington, Kennedy, and Eisenhower are portrayed on U.S. coins.

Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Jackson, Grant, McKinley, Cleveland, Madison, and Wilson are portrayed on U.S. paper currency.

For more books about American Presidents.
Check out these books about Abraham Lincoln
Check out these books about George Washington

Happy Birthday Amelia Bedelia!

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Amelia Bedelia

It has been 50 years since Amelia Bedelia has showed us her unique ways of dusting the furniture, dressing a chicken, drawing the drapes, and changing the towels.  Amelia does EXACTLY what she is told to do and things just don’t seem to turn out right.

Harper Collins is celebrating Amelia Bedelia Day on January 29, 2013.  Visit the website for more information about the day and for fun games and activities: http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/kids/gamesandcontests/features/amelia

Check out the library’s collection of books about Amelia Bedelia and about the authors Peggy and Herman Parish.

Happy 50th Birthday Amelia Bedelia !!!

How Not to Train for a 5K

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eric trains for a 5kAt the beginning of the summer, let’s say around May, my friend asked me if I wanted to run a 5k. I obviously said no. Then he said it was the Warrior Dash complete with obstacles, plus you get a fuzzy warrior helmet and other swag, and bonus, the proceeds go to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. So I reluctantly agreed.

So in May I started running…. OK, I will not call it running, more like slow jogging, but not even fast walking. Let’s just say I got off the couch and moved my legs in a forward direction. I made it about a quarter mile and that was it. I was in trouble; I wasn’t really sure what 5k stood for but I was pretty sure I had a long way to go and a short time to get there.

Meanwhile, this so-called, quickly becoming my not-friend said, Let’s run in another race called the Mudathon. Me, being the genius that I am, said, what the heck, I won’t be able to finish the one, might as well not finish two. By the way, these two races have a two-week window between them, and both were set for August.

That gave me plenty of time to stretch my legs out and find all those 5ks that are out there (I guess that is 10ks now).  So let me tell you, it takes a lot to get off the couch and train in any way, especially since the only time I normally run is away from somebody chasing me, which occurs rarely or in some kind of sport, but let’s face it, my sporting days are mostly behind me now. About a month into my training and not feeling like I was getting anywhere, I said to myself, wait a minute, I am smarter than this; I work at a library and I am sure we have books on training or getting in shape or something like that. Lo and behold, we do. I found a book called Galloway’s 5k and 10k Running.

After months of grueling training, the fateful day had arrived. Despite the 12:30pm start time and the middle of August date, the weather was perfect for the Mudathon. No rain. No humidity. A slight breeze. Plus a temperature in the mid 70s. A better day would be impossible. Well, except I had to run.

Not just run: I had to navigate 40 obstacles (for course map just click). I guess that is what I signed up for….but I am not complaining because I had a great time. My favorite part was floating down the lazy mud river; my least was the monkey bars. I cannot tell you how many bales of hay I had to leap over; it had to be in the thousands. (video)

Two weeks later was the Warrior Dash. At the end of this one was fire that you had to leap over. To train for this, I jumped over a candle in my living room every time the electric went out this summer, which by the way was a lot. There were far less obstacles in this one which made it easier (course map), but there was some swimming involved which increased its awesomeness! I hate to admit it but for this one I sort of wore a kilt, but so did some of my friends. Also, I’m not reluctant to share with you that wearing a kilt is awesome. I think I am going to wear it all the time. My only worry was losing it on the course in the water or it getting caught on fire.

The best part of the day for me was the camaraderie between runners. Everybody helped each other, either physically or with motivation. I can also report I did too, except for the ladies who had on Pittsburgh Steelers garb; I only heckled them (Who Dey!).

All in all, I had two great weekends with great friends. I met some really cool people and didn’t get injured at all (a little second-day soreness but that’s it, maybe third day as well.) If you have a chance to participate in these or events like this, do them: you don’t have to run or jog, think of it as a hike. As for my training, I can run a 5k, but when doing these events, it is also important to work on the upper body as well because you will be pulling yourself over various objects. If you don’t feel like you can make an obstacle, somebody will help you, or just go around it. The main thing is to bring a buddy and meet some new friends; what more could you ask for in a weekend?

Halloween Prep

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a zombie ate my cupcakeBefore I start making fun of this general group of women, let me just say: I am one. This is one of those preemptive comments that makes readers nervous but I feel like it’s a necessary precaution.  I’m talking about the women (and men? Are there any?) who spend hours on Pinterest, Blogger, and other social perfect-ifying websites studying up on how to do things just exactly so. Like, for example, preparing the perfect Thanksgiving holiday {All table decorations must be handmade from cloth you’ve woven yourself, twigs you’ve snapped from family heirloom trees, and candles scented with your backyard’s crisp fall air}, or maybe creating a working carousel out of your advanced child’s leftover construction paper scraps which will, as a bonus, teach them about the ups and downs in life as their little paper animals swing up and dip low, along with your mood for crafting.

I’m exaggerating, but you know who I’m talking about. The people who want to whisk Martha Stewart into their living room and get one of her signature half smiles of semi-approval. I could also mention actual mommy-bloggers, but then I’d be breaking my promise of personal inclusion in “the group” as I’m not yet a mother. I keep waiting for the competitive nature of these online bloggers and pinners to build until some hilarious display of primal rage, like a virtual food fight, erupts–except instead of cafeteria fodder, they would throw organic, home-blended baby food.

As much fun as I may make, I too have a Pinterest with thousands of pretty pins waiting to be imperfectly replicated, and I follow my favorite blogs as religiously as my parents and grandparents read the newspaper. Pinterest andblogs can make for some unique inspiration, and they’re great creative outlets for writers. They offer up ideas for every aspect of life imaginable so we don’t have to think of them ourselves, thank goodness, and they’ve birthed an entire generation of people looking to do things on their own, which can’t possibly be a bad thing. So, for those of you who are looking to throw a great Halloween party from scratch, worthy of a hundred re-pins, CCPL has got your back! Browse our great selection of Halloween books and look to the pros for your crafting and decorating ideas. Also, check out the fun books available for download via Freading. There are categories like crafts&hobbies, house&home, and cooking. The book “A Zombie Ate My CupCake!” by Lily Vanilli might be my personal favorite for goulish, fun eats–and when your party goers eat them up without savoring your creative culinary brilliance first, we have books for that too.

The End

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So far, 2012 has gone off without a hitch. No zombies, no rapture, the poles have not reversed, and the sun has not exploded. But there is still time for these things to occur, so get your disaster kits ready because it is going to be a long and scary apocalypse, especially if the zombie thing happens.

For my money, the best investment you can make is to go to the library and find the various books that we have on our shelves about survival and apocalypse, then read them and maybe even practice some of the lessons that are contained in these helpful books. Obviously the library is the best resource for all your 2012 apocalypse needs. If  you are looking through those books and said apocalypse occurs you can always use the books for fire or a hammer or something like that. (Don’t really do that, those books need to be returned to the library in the condition they left, even if zombies are the only ones working at the library upon return.)

Moreover, the government is selling off its unused cold war missile silos for very reasonable prices. It seems to me that an abandoned missile silo would be a great place to ride out any kind of apocalypse that may occur. Some of them may be fixer uppers, but what else are you going to do in this late stage of the game? December 21st is approaching faster than you think.

If you can’t afford a missile silo it is best to learn some survival skills that can get you through the end of the world or just in case you are lost in the woods. Here are some excellent survival books for those just right occasions. Click here now.

With all this doom and gloom upon us, it is also good to know that we have experienced and survived these things before. Who can forget Y2K? That was a close one. Thankfully all those computer geeks fixed that bug before everything shut down and caused mass hysteria. Here is an awesome list of past end times that we as people survived.

Lets not forget all the disaster, end of the world movies, that we all enjoy. Wikipedia has a great list of such films (just click on that link in the previous sentence to see it). I am sure we have many of them here at the library, so you can see what is going to happen and prepare accordingly.

Whichever way the world decides to end (zombies), it is always good to be prepared. There is no better place to get yourself prepared than your local library. (Except for maybe Fin, Feather and Fur Outfitters; have you ever been to that place? It is unbelievable; it is like a super amped up Pro Bass Shop.) I guess I’ll see you later, unless we are all dead, in which case I might just eat your brains.

 

 

 

1967 Music and Library Memories

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In 1967, the Bethel Library, founded in 1929 by the Bethel Women’s Club and housed in the Grant Memorial Building, officially became a Branch of the Clermont County Public Library system.

What music were you listening to in 1967?  Do you remember these Grammy Award winners?

And how about these top hits and artists?

Come share your music and library memories from 1967 to the present on Saturday, August 11, 2012 when the Bethel Branch Library will officially celebrate its 45th Anniversary.  Bring the family for fun activities from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  Kids can see dog tricks performed by Oliver the Bassett hound, make a craft and have their face painted.  All ages are welcome to listen to music by the Daniel Patrick Family Singers, meet Browser the library’s mascot, check out library and local history displays, enter contests to win prizes, mingle with local and library dignitaries and enjoy refreshments.

Take a “Step Back in Time with Stories of Bethel Library’s Past” on Tuesday, August 7, 6:30-7:45 p.m. and share your library memories with our panel of guest speakers including former and current Bethel library staff, “Worldwalker” author Steven Newman, Walter Carter from the Bethel Historical Museum and Bethel library volunteers and patrons.

What music were you listening to in 1967 in Bethel, Ohio?  We want to know!

 

 

 

1,000 Books Before Kindergarten – Part 4

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my truck is stuckThis past month, my son and I had a lot of fun reading together.  The books we read covered many different themes and ideas.  We read books about animals, parts of the body, colors, shapes, and springtime.  We also read both toddler and easy picture books.  He is enjoying story time more and we are getting into a good routine of reading before bedtime.  Some of his favorite books were:

My Truck is Stuck by Kevin Lewis – This book was by far his favorite.  We read it every night and most nights we read it twice.  This book is about a truck that gets stuck and other vehicles try to help it get unstuck.  This book has counting and rhyming text which makes it fun and easy to read.

All About Me! by Dawn Sirett – This book talks about a group of toddlers who name different parts of the body.   This lift-the-flap board book is a lot of fun.

Baby’s very first touchy-feely animals book by Stella Baggott - This touch and feel book has bright colors and the textured patches make it fun for babies.

Where is Baby’s Belly Button? and Where is Baby’s Yummy Tummy by Karen Katz – Karen Katz’s books are still a favorite of his.  These books are great to help toddlers identify parts of the body and with fun flaps to lift, it makes each page a surprise.

This has been an exciting month of reading.  I am also finding out that it is hard to get him to like new books.  He is very comfortable in having the same books read over and over.  We read the same books for about 2-3 weeks and then we read new ones for 2-3 more weeks.  Repetition in books seems to make him comfortable.  He likes knowing what books will be read and gets excited with every turn of the page.  I am hoping that as we explore the books and since we read the same books over and over, he will learn new words and be able to identify new objects.

For more tips on how to read to your toddler and information on the 6 pre-literacy skills, please visit the Ready to Read page of the website.

 

303 books previously read. 96 books read this month. Total of 399 books read so far.

1,000 Books before Kindergarten – 399 books read = 601 books left to read

 

 

The Most Important Tools for Everyday Repairs

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simple home repair“Take these three items right here. You can have this. WD-40, vise grips, and some duct tape. Any man worth his salt can do half the household chores with just those three things.” ~ Walt Kowalski

The other day I found myself in a conversation about the four tools that everyone should have in their tool box. Many opinions will surface, but here is the list that we developed based on our vast years of knowledge and experience: Duct tape, WD-40, vise grips and a tool that is to be named later.

For example, let’s say you have a leaky faucet. So a quick look under the sink to turn off the shut off valve, only to find it is stuck. Simple solution spray some WD-40 on it and wait. If you don’t feel like waiting and the leak is driving you crazy grab the vise grips and turn the valve with all your might. While turning the lubricated, stuck valve with your vise grips, it somehow breaks and sends water shooting all over. Now grab your duct tape and quickly seal it off. Problem solved, except now there is a faster drip, but at least you got to use your tools. Last tool, the cell phone, it is used to call a plumber.

Here are some other handy uses for your tools: Creating a hole in the wall (vise grips), fixing a hole in the wall (duct tape), causing a slippery floor (WD-40), temporary replacement for a steering wheel (vise grips), getting your sister to be quiet (duct tape), cracking a walnut (vise grips), fixing a broken tail light (duct tape), Free a tongue stuck to frozen metal in winter (WD-40), instant step for climbing (vise grips), and I’m sure there are multiple other uses for these wonderful tools.

Here is a book you can read that you may find helpful: The complete idiot’s guide to simple home repair.

 

 

 

 

 

Strolling Through Life: It Pays to Have a Playaway

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I’ve recently moved on up to the east side, living the sweet life in the suburbs. OK, well, I didn’t actually move, I’ve been doggie sitting. But I’ve still been enjoying everything that the cushy life in the ‘burbs has to offer. The air smells like grilled cheese and everyone waves when you walk by. Most importantly, there are actual sidewalks, not just deer trails in the woods.

After the first mind-numbing 2 hour walk that this specific pooch requires (every single day), I realized I needed to find something to keep my brain busy while my feet are moving. Something small, portable, free and entertaining… hmm, I wonder where I can find that?

Lucky for me, I work in a place FULL of entertaining options (No, they don’t pay me to plug the library. Oh wait, yes, they do. (I’d do it for free anyway!))

Have you heard about our Playaway collection?

What’s a Playaway you ask? It’s an entire audio book that is preloaded on to an individual little mp3 player. No more switching CDs or carrying a Walkman or even worrying about downloading the Overdrive Console and using the eBook Project. Just plug in your head phones, slip it into your pocket and go. It’s the size of a credit card but it packs a wollup in the entertainment department!

There are tons of books that I can’t wait to listen to. There are over 600 different titles in the collection, including some of the most popular new releases, as well as titles for teens and kids. I have a hold on The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (read the the AMAZING Jim Dale), but we also have best sellers like:

Since I’ve started listening I’ve found so many other places to use my Playways. When I cut the grass, I use a Playaway. Sitting outside in the vague hopes that the sun will give me some vitamin D and I will no longer look like a sparkly vampire = Playaway! Vacuuming the house because my pets are a furry menace, that’s right, I’m listening to my Playaway!!

Check out all of our titles here, and remember we have Playaway View for your kids to watch too!