Five Things On a Friday

Here are a few random thoughts.

1. My new principal thinks books will become obsolete in the future, although she didn't specify how far into the future she thinks this may happen. The thought horrifies me. There's still something very intimate and wonderful about holding a book - about nestling into bed with one or sharing a picture book with an enthusiastic group of first graders. You can take a book any place - to the beach, the doctor's waiting room, the airport terminal ...the unemployment line. Try plugging in your laptop in any of those places! I don't think books will ever become obsolete, no more than I think calculators will ever become a substitute for a solid knowledge of your math facts.

2. This winter has gone on long enough. Please, we need a sign of spring - a crocus or something! I still have a foot of snow in my yard. Ugh.

3. I was pleased to see a lot of teens in the YA section of Border's a few weeks ago. I heard a mother telling her daughter, "This time, don't leave it in your backpack." She was referring to her daughter's copy of Twilight. Somebody had apparently stolen it. Does this elevate books to the status of iPods and iphones? While I don't like thieves any more than the next person, I like the idea of somebody wanting a book that bad. It gives me hope, in a weird way.

4. My husband started remodeling the bathroom off our bedroom. The floors are coated with a fine gray dust and our bathroom vanity is sitting smack in the middle of my bedroom. Fortunately we have another bathroom we can use until this one is finished.

5. My eldest son is losing his job. Today is his last day and so far he has no job prospects. He is looking, however. Anybody have any job leads for a hard working, punctual, smart, literate college grad on Long Island? He does not want to sit around collecting unemployment.

Happy Friday!