Category Archives: library

Yoga: It does a Body Good

Posted on by
Reply
yogaWhenever I think of yoga, I always picture the movie “Star Wars” and the little green guy in those movies named Yoda. I’m not really sure why but it sticks with me. Yoda is, of course, the master of finding inner peace and is amazingly agile and flexible for a nine-hundred-year-old being. So when I found out one of my friends was opening a yoga studio in the Cincinnati area, I had to try it. I mean, I always wanted to be as cool as Yoda.
As many of you may or may not know, I took on the endeavor of a couple of 5k runs with my friend last year. So this year, I have decided to take on Yoda, I mean yoga. (I don’t think I could take Yoda.) Having a friend that I trust sure helped in taking the first step to a nice Vinyasa Flow (that’s a yoga term or so I’m told). Many of you might think that running a 5k would be much tougher than yoga, but I am here to tell you that is not true. I used to be an athlete, so I know a good workout when I am forced to do one, and yoga is the best workout. I had my first class on a Thursday at the Fort Thomas Yoga Den and was still sore into the next week. But it was a good sore, an accomplished sore. A sore you go back for the next week, which is what I did and am still doing.
But taking a class is not the only way to get into yoga. There are several instructional videos out there that are super helpful in getting you started. You can certainly check them out at the library and save yourself some bucks. Here are a few of my favorites:
The Trainer’s Edge. Long and Lean Yoga:  This one is good because it helps with flexibility and toning.
Kathryn Budig. Aim True Yoga: The yoga flow that is incorporated here is most similar to the class I’m taking. I haven’t gotten into the poses yet.
Yoga for Inflexible People:  It has 35 workouts that range from 15 minutes to over an hour. If you have only 15 minutes for a workout, you can do that with this video.
There are many more videos that may be more suited to your skill level or to what you want out of a yoga workout, like flexibility, inner peace or core strength. I say the library is a good place to test out these things.
If a video or a class is not your style, the library also has books on yoga. These will also help you get into the yoga lifestyle. Yoga books are an excellent way to see the poses step-by-step through each progression; they are good for setting your own pace and teaching yourself. They will also let you know what the poses will help you accomplish in your workout.
Everybody has different goals that they want to accomplish in their yoga workout. My goal was to become more flexible and increase my lung capacity for running. But what I found was a lot more. You should TRY it and see what you can get out of yoga for yourself. But if you do start, make sure you are mentally and physically ready. You may want to consult a physician and/or start with a trained professional to reduce risk. WebMD has some helpful insights into the health benefits and risks of practicing yoga.

Sometimes, Some Things Make Me Cry.

Posted on by
Reply

I’m a guy, so I never cry. But, as the title goes sometimes, some things do make me cry. It’s a natural human emotion and I am man enough to admit to it. This, however, is not going to be about all the things that make me cry; you don’t care about that and I certainly have no need to share my sensitivities that only occur when it’s raining. Nonetheless, it’s time we share a tender moment together and delve into our feelings over a nice, freshly brewed cup of tea.

For me, nothing gets me crying more than a good Bruce Willis movie, like the Die Hard movies or Red or even 16 Blocks, in which he sports an outstanding mustache.  In the grand scheme of things, a good Bruce Willis tear-jerker keeps it all in perspective for me. When poor John McClain gets sucked into another scenario where he is the only one that can be the hero and save the day, that just hits me right in the tear ducts man. The pain he goes through must really hurt – I mean emotionally, of course. Probably physically as well.

But, even more than that, sitting down next to the fireplace while sipping on some tea and reading a good emotionally gripping-novel with some historically accurate inaccuracies like Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith. This book is so emotionally gripping that my copy has several tear-stained pages. There is not a doubt in my mind that the library’s copy has some of the same problems…from many other patrons’ leaking eyes.

Then there is Justin Bieber. “I’ll be honest with you, I love his music. I do. I’m a “Justin Bieber” fan. For my money, I don’t know if it gets any better than when he sings “When a Man Loves a Woman”.” Bieber brings on a whole other level of sentimentality.  Every song he bellows from his velvety smooth vocal chords brings out emotions in me that I just don’t understand. He sends me to tears with one note. He’s just that good.

As you can plainly see, I’m an emotional fellow. I may not cry at every time a vampire shines like a diamond for me or for every lost love, but I have my moments and that is exactly what they are…my moments. Plus, I kinda lied; this did turn out to be about my times of tenderness.

P.S. I never Cry, never. I don’t care what you say…..never. Plus, I’m more of a Michael Bolton fan. He just gets me.

I want my Barbie Dictionary!

Posted on by
Reply

Does anybody use a dictionary anymore? I mean the book, where you have to open the pages and have some semblance of the alphabetical order and maybe a slight grasp of how to spell the word you are looking up. You can’t replace the good old ink-and-paper, handy dandy dictionary (some aren’t so handy dandy; Webster has gotten a little bloated). Sure, you can now use the internet to look up the word you want (try dictionary.com). Most computer programs, if not all, have spell check. Even Words with Friends tells you that mess of letters you tried to play is not an acceptable word. So, I guess the good old dictionary is being replaced. I mean, I don’t own one.

Upon further review, it seems as though the dictionary is branching out. Trying new things. Exploring new concepts. Gradually sneaking up on you until all of the sudden you notice it again. Like an old friend that never really left your side even though you made new friends like the computer or spell check. Lo and behold, It’s not just for words anymore…..

Star Wars has given the dictionary an all-new identity with their line of visual dictionaries found at the library. (I own all of these, of course)

There is also, the believe it or not, the Math dictionary (I’m not sure what that’s about, never read it, never will. I am assured it does exist).

Or  the Lover’s Dictionary (okay, I think this one is more a work of fiction rather than a dictionary).

Let’s not forget the Dictionary of Wholesome Foods (I have no idea what that means, but I did not see a Big Mac in there anywhere).

Even baseball has its own dictionary (apparently there are a lot of baseball-specific terms because it is a very thick book at almost 1000 pages).

And then, my (and I assume everybody’s) favorite dictionaries are The Curious George Dictionary and, of course, The Barbie Picture Dictionary.

Okay, so there are a lot of dictionaries out there. Plus, dictionaries are smart to diversify  from just defining words and whatever else they were doing (balancing tables). So, head on out to the library and check out latest fad…dictionaries. That’s right, it’s a thing now.

Halloween Prep

Posted on by
Reply

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

Posted on by
1

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.

 

 

 

The Most Important Tools for Everyday Repairs

Posted on by
1

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.

 

 

 

 

 

The Allure of Lore

Posted on by
1

russian folktalesOver the last half-year or so, I’ve been on something of a folklore kick. I’m not certain why folk tales appeal to me–perhaps it has been spurred by memories of my British grandmother telling me off-color stories that she remembered from her childhood (none of which I will repeat here).

To continue, some of the appeal would also have to be that they can be quickly read. Believe it or not, us library types are just as often pressed for time and don’t feel like reading a tome. But this is not to say that folk tales lack any depth, despite their being relegated to the realm of children’s stories (at least in our modern culture). But let’s leave any further analysis for the obnoxious literary theorist inside of me that I’ve been trying to suppress since finishing my masters. Folk tales are just entertaining and a great way of understanding people from around the world.

My current read (among others) is: Russian Folk-Tales retold by James Riordan. I’m reading the tale of Vassilisa, who is sent by her evil stepsisters to fetch firewood from Baba Yaga. Sounds like an easy task, right? One major problem– Baba Yaga is an old hag who flies around in a mortar and whose house is fenced by row upon row of the skulls of her victims (Warning: not every folk tale is safe for the children). The good news, though, is that evil is never victorious–well, most of the time.

Here are a few other books that I’ve read:

Latin American Folktales: Stories from the Hispanic and Indian Traditions- Particularly interesting are the Inca legends about their kings.

Russian Gypsy Tales- Amongst other things, explains why you shouldn’t try to summon the Queen of Spades at midnight.

Folk-Tales of the British Isles- Includes the tale of ”Tom Tit Tot,” an inspiration for Rumpelstiltskin.

The Complete Grimm’s Fairy Tales- As opposed to the Disney version of Cinderella, the evil stepsisters get their eyes plucked out by birds as punishment.  They don’t call it Grimm for nothin’.

Popular Smopular

Posted on by
Reply

This past weekend I wanted to be a good library worker and familiarize myself with the more popular items that the friendly library has to offer. Just to let you know, I have a strong reluctance toward anything popular. I like to tread my own path, so to speak. It’s an affliction I have suffered with my whole life. I deal with it.

As you may or may not have heard, The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins, is the big thing right now. But, that is not the popular task that I took on, that would be too big of a step for this rebel. Moreover, the hold list for those books are astronomical, but I highly recommend them nonetheless. Other people seem to like them.

The popular thing I decided to take on was Harry Potter. I know what you are saying “Harry Potter? that was so five years ago.” I am taking baby steps here so cut me a break. Plus, the series sold like half a billion books worldwide and is the best selling book series in history, at least according to good old Wikipedia.

And of course I took the shortcut and watched the movies. That’s why they make movies, so I don’t have to read the books, right? Anyway, some of those books are fairly large and I would probably need more than a weekend to read them all. Plus bonus, you can check the Harry Potter movies and books from the library right now if you want! Because they are available, no wait list.

Needless to say I was entertained. So much so, I may even read the books.

Probably next year.

P.S. I do read books. I am reading Seth Grahame-Smith’s Unholy Night right now. (It’s not a movie yet, so I had to read it)

Chronicling America

Posted on by
Reply

Many visitors to the Clermont County Public Library already know about the genealogy resources that we offer, in print and digital formats. We have a variety of materials specific to the history of Ohio and Clermont County. We also provide online access to databases, such as Ancestry Library Edition, HeritageQuest, World Vital Records, and more.

I recently found out about another great online resource, Chronicling America, The National Digital Newspaper Program in Ohio. This website is a partnership of the Ohio Historical Society, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and the Library of Congress. Through an NEH grant, the Ohio Historical Society is digitizing Ohio’s microfilmed newspapers, published between 1836 and 1922. The current focus of the project is on the Civil War era, between the years of 1845 and 1894.

In addition to being used for genealogy, Chronicling America is also searchable by topic. Students writing reports can find a variety of topics, including the building and sinking of the Titanic, the Wright Brothers, prohibition, the Civil War, and World War I. This is a great way to find out what was being reported about these events, while they were happening. You may also find pictures to use in student displays.

I found this site fun to search, and enjoyed seeing how things were reported and advertised. I hope you get a chance to use this great resource!

Navigating the College Scholarship Maze

Posted on by
Reply


 

  • Individuals with higher education have a lower unemployment rate and higher earnings.

 

  • College costs (tuition and fees) increased an average of: 7.9% at a four–year public institutions and 6% at a four-year private institutions during the 2009-2010 academic year

 

  • According to the U.S. Department of Education, there are literally thousands of scholarships available from a wide variety of sources.

 

Navigating the college maze can seem like a daunting task.  Whether you are beginning your college search or in the middle join us on Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 6:30 p.m .for an informative presentation on finding scholarships for college.

Dan Bisig, member of the Kentucky Association for College Counseling National College Advocacy Group (NOAG) and founder of College and Beyond will be at the Amelia Library to talk about getting college scholarships.  He will discuss when to start the process, how to apply, where to look for them and much more.

 

Reserve your seat today by calling the Amelia Library at 513 752-5580.

 

Our presenter, Dan Bisig will discuss these questions and much more at Amelia’s January 17 th Program

 

1. When should I start looking for scholarships?

 

There are scholarships available for students in all grade levels but the vast majority of scholarships are available during the Senior year. Even after a student gets into college they can continue to search and apply for scholarships.
2. Where do I find them?

 

Information about scholarships can be found at colleges, in the Library and by doing research on the Internet.
3. Is the internet the best place to look for scholarships?

 

The Internet is a great place to start looking for data on independent scholarships. However the big money is given out by Colleges directly so do your homework on college websites to find out what it takes to qualify for these  college specific scholarships.
4. Can anyone get scholarships?

 

YES, there are scholarships out there for all kinds of students, not just for academic superstars, BUT students must take action and apply. Do your research and know the facts of what they are looking for in an applicant. It could be something as simple as completing a one page application.
5. What are some good websites to look at?

 

fastweb.com and scholarshipexperts.com are 2 terrific websites.