Born this way

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Tea, anyone?

{via Threadless}

I drink a couple of cups of tea during the day at work, when sitting at my desk and simultaneously doing whatever I'm doing (work, mostly). But the cup I need the most is the afternoon cuppa. The one I drink when there's still couple of hours of the day left, but I'd be ready to go home already. Then I need to take a break to shake off that worn out feeling ang to get a little more energy to spurt the rest of the day.

In order to give myself a proper break and take full advantage of that crazy 12-minute break I have, I've started to get out of the library. I go downstairs, to the entrance hall, and sit in the farthermost corner behind the plants. It's very peaceful in the hall in the afternoons and I'm not easily spotted behind the greenery even if a colleague walks by. The air conditioning blows a bit and it feels like I were sitting in a tiny jungle. Only ten minutes of sitting there makes me feel more energetic and helps me through the rest of the day.

Taking breaks is important. So is drinking enough tea.

You're special, baby

I was just shown the special collection of the library. There was, for instance:
13 types of fake grass
hundreds of fabric samples
old hats and shoes
bricks in different colors
pieces of wooden floor panels
authentic kimonos
color charts
samples of mesh
and a huge range of handmade books from different artists.

I think I found my place in life.
I wanna be a librarian in a place called
library of weird things.

They do have a good beginning in here,
but I would have so much fun building
a special collection further.

Just a minute, I'll put my glasses on

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On a new campus again, this time at an art school. The collection in the library includes fashion magazines for decades and different books of tattoo designs. Just for an example, they seem to have everything art and design - related here. And all the students are oh-so-stylish wandering around in their unique clothes. Fifteen minutes ago I went to the cafe to buy a sandwich, and they sold paints, drawing pads and chalks in there as well. I'm amazed.

And the girl at the multimedia desk asked me, what does it really mean to be a librarian. What is the whole thing about. Well, I said, it depends a lot of where you work. In some places you handle with old smelly books, in others you deal more with computers or people. But all the librarians are very sexy and stylish anyway, with their glasses and pretty hairdos and skirts. As you can tell from the two librarians-to-be in front of you, two messy-haired young girls in jeans.

What does it really mean to be a librarian? Phhhww, a hard question. I think I have to have a thought before I can give you a summary. Later on I might write a whole post about it, but not today. Opinions, anyone? Pics of sexy librarians also welcomed!

My, oh My!

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Today I worked on a different campus. The library was small and reminded me of...well, a library. The one I usually work at is more like an airport with its massive hall and huge windows, and all the students wandering around and shouting to each other. We even have security gates and guards there. Even though I like my job and have enjoyed my time there, I still think in the future I will prefer a place that is more like a library. So that's why I was so happy with my new experience today.

There was a manager with the cutest laugh. And a very charming trainee with orange-yellow sneakers. And another guy, who started with showing me how he orders books for the library, but ended up showing me pictures of buildings. I especially liked the penguin pool from the London Zoo. He said it's a well-known building, drawn by some famous designer, but not in use anymore, apparently cause the penguins didn't like it. Which sounds a bit weird to me cause that place was super cool and even had slides. I'd love to live in a house with slides. But maybe that's the difference between me and penguins. They may prefer glaciers.

I also met the loveliest girl. She had a funky, personal style with a lot of twist and pale green fingernails. She was nice and friendly and a bit of hyper in a cute way. She talked all the time and swore like a pirate. (You know how I feel about swearing and pirates, especially together.) She also was a huge fan of the Moomins and told me that she is definitely gonna visit Finland some day. I really wish she will, I'm sure she would enjoy it. From the first moment she reminded me of the Little My, who (with Pippi Longstocking) has always been my impression of an ideal woman. (Btw, it was the second time within 24 hours when I thought it really is a shame I prefer boys. (And so do both of the girls that had made me think that way. Life's not fair.))

So not a bad day, not at all.

Monday despair of a customer service personnel

- This book is due today, but I still need it. Can I renew it?
- Absolutely no idea. But with my superpowers I'm gonna find it out soon.

- Can I pay my fines?
- Well, I never say no to money. As long as there isn't any sex involved...

- Can I return this book?
- Well, why not?

- Can I get a new password?
- Can I dance a little dance every time it rains?
- Sorry?
- Yes, yes you can. As long as you don't ask any more stupid questions.

- How are you?
- And why do you ask that?

PS. I've only used number one in real life. So no need to pull that paper bag to your head, luv.

I'm a perfect colleague today

- I'm gonna steal your computer for a second.
- And did I say that was all right?
- No... but that's why it's called stealing. It would be borrowing if I've asked first.

Creativity by a random generator

I handed a student a note including his new password. The guy looked my neat handwiriting forming the word Misery followed with two numbers. Then he looked back to me.

- Yeah, I know... But they are randomly generated, I didn't make that up. Just try not to care.
- (Laughing) Okay, thank you anyway.
- If it makes you feel any better, the first option was Maniac something. But I just decided to skip it.
- (Laughing even more) Yeah, this one is totally fine. Thank you.

I'd just like to know who picked all those words the generator uses when randomly generating.

It's a compliment, not a lie

I was helping a lady to find a book she needed and told her where she could look for it. It's always a bit tricky to explain that it could be in a place called shelving trolley, which sometimes is a real trolley, but can also be a shelf full of books waiting to be shelved. When she left the desk I though that I really seem to be struggling with English today, but hopefully she understood even a bit.
At that moment the lady turned around and came back to me.

- By the way, I have to say your English is brilliant. What is your native langugae?
- Finnish.
- Oh, I could never speak Finnish the way you're speaking English now. Very good job.

I don't know, if she really meant that or if she just wanted to be nice, but this episode made me happy anyway. Especially when there seems to be some huge delays in my langugae center today. I can hear people talking to me, but it takes at least 30 seconds before I understand what they say. And for that 30 seconds there is a terribly stupid look on my face while I'm processing the case. What a good day to work in customer service.

Confidence is all it takes

- What's the user ID for this program?
- Oh, I can't remember it. I've got it written down somewhere, but I don't know where...
- You are so useless. "I've got it written down somewhere..."
- Yeah, I know I'm useless. But it doesn't matter, cause I'm so cute.

...And after that he just had nothing to say anymore. But he laughed. A lot.