Those Days

It's days like today that something inspires me, so I feel compelled to write about it. Today, it's the bra strap I found on the floor at work by the public computers.

Being a librarian sounds like the easiest, most laid-back job ever, and often is. But then there are those days.

I don't blog about work very much, because I'm more inspired to blog about life as a mom or an LEO wife, but today's the day. Don't get me wrong- I totally love my job! I enjoy helping people, working with the public, my preschool story time every week, summer reading programs, etc. It's awesome. But then every once in a while I'm confused about what my job even is. So let me write out a librarian's job description. And I'll briefly explain each role, to help paint the picture for you.

Book checker-outer/finder/looker-upper.
           * No, I don't know what book that was that you saw in here a few days (months) ago with the green on it and the yellow writing, that you thought you saw on that shelf with the blue sign. I have no idea what you're talking about. (Meanwhile, I wonder, 'when has there ever been a shelf with a blue sign?')

Fax machine operator.
           * Yes, I can fax those papers for you. You and your freshly manicured nails digging around your Michael Kors handbag, looking for your iPhone 6 so you can find the fax number..... to the food stamp office. Then complain because it cost a dollar per page. ('Get in your Mercedes and go home.')

Computer operator/teacher/and apparently super hacker, too.
           * Yes, I can let you get on a computer. No, I can't log into your email and print out your flight itinerary for you. Nor can I log on to your work website to help you find your pay stubs.
           Side Note: You wouldn't believe the people who yell at me because they can't log into their email. The problem? The email/password don't match or the password is incorrect. Hang on while I look in my big book of passwords that has ALL PASSWORDS EVER USED EVER. Sadly, we don't have that book in circulation.

Cashier.
            * If you owe money in fines or for copies you made, please pay me in cash you pull out of your wallet. When you pull that damp $5 bill straight from your mid-day August bosom, girl please. A bra is no place for bills... or nickels (YES, I SAID NICKELS). Girls, please.

Therapist.
            * I'm very grateful to (apparently) have this demeanor where complete strangers feel like they can tell me anything. I try my best to smile a lot, and offer encouragement when I feel people may need it. But I really don't need to know why you're printing out pictures of women off of your 'Tagged' account. That's your business, And don't tell me where you're meeting them later. I don't want that on my conscience. And no, I don't know where you should go for dinner.

Then there are some that don't fall under any category. The ones that leave you a tad perplexed.

Like when a man asked me, "How do you get upstairs? The stairs?" Yes, that's correct.

Or, "I'm looking for that book 'Tequila Mockingbird' by Maya Angelou." WHAT.

Or when a patron runs up to the counter from the computers and asks me to spell the word 'uncensored." (?!)

And when patrons ask for our WiFi password, and I have to spell 'l-i-b-r-a-r-y' for them because that first 'R' never seems to find its way in there.

Or when a patron decides a used feminine product would make a good bookmark. USED.

And then there are those days each week when Story Time rolls around, and I'm reminded why I enjoy my job so much. Those smiling faces of kiddos eager to read a book, learn Spanish words, sing songs, play with puzzles and make a craft with me.. the best.

21 DF Challenge

There's no magic pill - just hard work. You can get what you want by being lazy.

I wanted a change. I wanted a healthier lifestyle for me and my family. I wanted my body to get the proper nutrition it needs to thrive each day. I wanted to feel better - physically, mentally and emotionally. That's why I took control over my eating habits.

I've tried ways to get in shape before. Pilates and spin (which I still love), workout equipment from Walmart, and that terrible 'Fit Into Your Jeans by Friday.' Yes, the Kim Kardashian one. What was I thinking? Bored college kid.

When you're breastfeeding, you literally eat all day long to keep your supply up so you can give your baby the milk she needs. But when you stop breastfeeding, then what? Then what's you're excuse for that milkshake at 3:00 a.m.? I needed some self control! Please don't get me wrong- a woman who just had a baby is BEAUTIFUL! Everything about making, carrying and having a child is incredible and amazing and fantastic and perfect. But mamas know how it feels to look a lotttt differently than you did in that wedding photo where your husband has his hands wrapped around your tiny 31-inch waist while you two are slow dancing to Jack Johnson. It can be a heavy-on-your-mind feeling.

I started my 21 Day Fix journey on March 2nd, and completed it on March 22nd. It's a three week program that's based on clean eating, portion control and daily exercise. So I filled up my colored containers each day, and tried to eat everything I was supposed to take in in a single 24-hours. That's a lot of food! The trick is, eating the right amount of the right things. I was only allowed (with my caloric intake) two yellow containers per day, which is considered carbs. Before the program, carbs made up probably 80 percent of my daily diet. Who knew I needed 4 servings of meat and three (LARGE) servings of vegetables each day? Now I do! And that's only a drop in the colored container bucket.

I was so surprised at the results I was seeing! I'm not big on photos of my stomach, but I'm stepping out of my comfort zone to show what a difference eating right and exercising regularly has made..
Yikes. Here goes..

March 2, 2015. Four months postpartum.

March 22, 2015. Three weeks later.

I may have light purple stretch marks across my stomach and I may have to re-position myself while sleeping because that pesky rib (that used to be in the correct place) sticks so far into the mattress it hurts to breathe, and I may have dark circles under my eyes because I chose to forego that nap while everyone else was napping because I had little things to take care of, like washing bottles or ironing uniforms... all these things for the rest of my life. But I'll feel good about myself because I've made a great change. A change that's good for the body and soul.