Yes, it was a wild and wooly week. More people than ever are coming into town early (families, grad students, adjunct professors, etc.), making it very busy in the office giving out Library cards.
Yesterday, on Friday, we were all tired and on edge. We all knew that during the week, somebody had spread accelerant on the inside stairs of the Forbes Library in Northampton and lit it. No injuries, but there was damage to the stairs and carpet. Clean up of the fire extinguisher's white powder residue will be extensive.
Again, I say: we were all on edge. So when someone came into the Office looking for "Maintenance," my red flags went up. This person has been working there long enough that I knew she had already tried to reach Maintenance and if she was still looking, this was an emergency. It turns out that a patron had come in to the Circulation desk and said, "There's something smoking outside." Someone had apparently thrown their lit cigarette on the bark mulch in the flower bed and it had caught fire. By the time I looked at it, there was no smoke but the entryway had filled up with acrid wood smoke.
Knowing full well that a fire can burn beneath the surface, I suggested we call the Fire Department. I was voted down by the first person. (Next time I will just call.) I spent some time looking for a professional person (my boss and 3 others were conducting a job interview). I found her and dumped it in her lap, taking another look as I went back to my desk. This time, it had begun to smolder again and thin plume of white smoke wafted up from the black mulch. Eventually, the Fire Department was called and they walked over with a giant spray jug of water and doused the area.
Later on, we were all treated to a memo from the Director telling us that we are all empowered to call the Fire Dept. or Police whenever we think it's necessary. Guess I should have known that.
About two hours later, my boss was calling the police. One of the professional librarians had seen someone stealing CD's. I literally did a double take when the officer showed up at the Office and he looked at me funny. I said, "I looked that way because you are REALLY tall, did you know that?" To his credit, he said, "Only when I hit my head in the doorway."
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Sunny Saturday
I went to a house party for Don Berwick, my favorite candidate for governor of the Commonwealth of Mass. I wasn't too keen on going because I'm already committed to his candidacy, but I'm glad I did. I learned a lot.
Why is Don Berwick my favorite? First of all, he's not a politician: he's a pediatrician, businessman, and progressive. At one point, he said, "I don't know about that -- educate me."
He is the only candidate who:
* Is against casinos in Massachusetts
* Is in favor of single payer health and medicare -- medicare for all
* And wants to debate Grossman and Coakley over the casino issue, but they won't play.
* He is against the Northeast natural gas pipeline (even though his wife is in charge of it in this state) because he says we can use other energy sources, such as solar and wind power. He is committed to reducing our carbon footprint in Massachusetts.
Why is Don Berwick against casinos? He says he doesn't care if people gamble, but he looks at evidence and he found:
* Some casinos in other states are failing and they have to be bailed out
* Slot machines (aka one-armed bandits) are designed to appeal to low income people (probably with the penny slots)
* Gambling addiction increases in the vicinity of casinos and it can be just as devastating as a drug addiction
* Casinos create jobs in the short term for the trade unions, but most people in the area are not qualified to work in casinos, so they bring in others
* Casinos displace a lot of low income people, some of whom become homeless.
Berwick and his team saved 100,000 lives. How did they do that? They focused on eliminating hospital errors through collaboration and sharing information. He knows how to lead a team.
Berwick says that if we save only 5% of the state's healthcare costs, we will save hundreds of thousands of dollars. 42% of the state budget is healthcare costs.
He believes a single payer system using the Vermont model will cut down vast amounts of paperwork which drive costs up and drive doctors nuts. Also, the malpractice insurance would be rolled into the system, making it better for the patient.
And, of course, Don Berwick believes in transparency in government and the methods and procedures for healthcare. There's more, but you can see it at "Don Berwick for Governor" if you do a Google search.
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Sunday, Sunday
Woke up with a sinus headache but said, chuck that, Farley. I got on the road about 10:30 a.m. and motored on down to the Mystic, Connecticut Aquarium. I had a pass from the Library for $5 off up to 4 admissions so I gave the other three to the Dad behind me. He still ended up paying $134!! He said, "Thank you, Ma'm." He was the second one to call me that ...
Anyway, luckily it was overcast because I walked around for about two hours and much of the attractions are outside. My pictures are not bad considering I forgot my trusty camera and was using my phone.
This glass sculpture inside a big aquarium is just as you walk in the front door (inside) and was made by Mr. P'an. They say it looks like the draped glass "leaves" look as if they are moving. I didn't think so, but I do love fish swimming around the sculpture!
Needless to say, this is a whale outside. When they are born, they are grey so that they can hide in their mother's shadow. But then they turn white so they can mix in with the snow and make it harder for their predators, polar bears and bigger whales, to find them.
Teeny tiny fish!
Statue on the way into the penguin area
New Trainer For the Day (left) getting instruction from the staff. Note penguin on bottom right is very skeptical.
It was hot even though it was overcast. Buddy at the right is about to take the plunge.
Penguin cuddles.
This guy is cropped from the photo two down. I think he's great!
I think she's waiting for a date.
Nap time at the stable.
School's out!
This was supposed to be of the coral below but I had to crop it out because the flash glared there. I do like this shot, though.
This is a red bellied barracuda. Somebody said he looks mad. How can you tell?
I found Nemo and his cousin.
Seated under an umbrella resting.
Luminescent corals.
A zillion fish.
Now we come to my favorites: jellies. You're not supposed to call them jelly fish because they aren't fish. I think they are exquisitely beautiful.
Sorry, I'm short on names, but this might be a moon jelly.
These guys were about the size of a silver dollar.
These were very fast swimmers!
As you can see, the Aquarium did various things with lighting.
This is one honkin' big turtle -- much bigger than dinner plate size. The Mashnatuck Indians revere the turtle and all of its parts.
Yes, I spent about two hours wandering around the Aquarium. I was pretty pooped and hot, but I thought, 'What the heck?' I determined, using my trusty GPS, that I was about 20 minutes from the Foxwoods Casino in Ledyard, CT. So I set off on my merry way.
Just as I thought, 'This must be the scenic route,' because of the two lane heavily wooded road, there was a sign that said "Scenic Route." Okay, got that straight.
At one point there was a tiny strip mall with a restaurant called "Thai One On" and on the sign below it said, "Support your local health center." Now, I'm not sure if those two are connected, but I didn't eat there. Finally, I got to the casino.
Here's the view of the Foxwoods hotel from the first level of the parking garage.
I had to take an elevator up one floor and then there is a LONG walk to the casino (although you come to a food court first. Mom: they had a Regina's pizza there!)
Sight along the way (below):
These are two Asian grandpas taking naps. There was an Asian granny on her own bench beyond them. She started looking at me so I had to take another picture of the hotel out the window. Then my camera battery died -- no more pictures!
After an incredibly long walk, I get to the Cedars Casino. The other one is Rainfall or something like that. I pull out $20 and in five minutes, I had already lost $3 -- on a penny machine! Grumbling, I sought another machine which, unfortunately was in the smoking area. I made sure that nobody was smoking near me. It was a quarter machine, but I thought I'd just try my luck. AND I ENDED UP WITH $120!! (I had started with $20.) Wahoo. I played one more and lost (so I actually had $120.25). What a kick to cash in a ticket for $120! Yay!
Of course, I went to the grand buffet and ate way too much. But the shrimp was excellent!
Believe it or not, this little missive has taken me 2.75 hours, so I'm going to watch some more of "Damages" with Glenn Close on Netflix. Ciao!
