Late (as usual) but at least the post is here.

Wow! First post of the year, which should have been done about 23 days ago…anyways…

It seems that so far 2014 has blown into the picture tired and panting. To date I am already breaking my New Year’s Resolutions that should have been simple and not a problem. Assignments not handed in (check). Not getting to the gym once or twice a week (check). Spending a couple of hours a night either crocheting or reading (or sometimes both).

I am happy that I am able to at least keep up with one thing on the list: Keeping up with friends and reading.

In the last two weeks or so I have been madly busing between Red River College, University of Manitoba, and the University of Winnipeg to visit friends. One day I spent almost two hours on the bus to see a friend at UofM, an hour both ways, and then I got home only to realize I wouldn’t have enough time to have a long nap before going out that night. You can imagine what kind of state I was in that night. The words grumpy and frustrated would have topped the list.

Pretty much I could have rivaled Grumpy Cat on any grumpy level.

I would like to say that this year I hope to actually complete a “Book Haul” post. My first one will be for December 2013 and will include all the books I bought during the month and received during my Christmas and Birthday from family and boyfriend. I know I did a terrible job last year with *cough* not *cough* doing any posts. I think I had just tried to bite off more than I could chew. I promise this year I will be better at this in 2014!

As for my writing this year I have already started on a project that I think will go far. I’ve got some scenes already marked out and character relationships planned out. Its about football (soccer for those who are not in UK and Ireland) and a librarian. Pretty cool huh? Yeah I thought so. My plan for the story is to start writing it like a fanfiction, since I am basing it off a real football team, but eventually I will be taking it off the internet and rewriting so it will be an original piece.

My idea for the title on the new WIP is: Footiebooks

What do you think? Too cliche? I think it may but again it is just a work in progress. As I go I will update its progress on my blog!

What kind of things would you like to see on my blog this year? Let me know in the comments below!

I am very confused on why I am not getting recommended Tags at the bottom of my page. Its actually kind of frusturating since I really enjoy looking at what my recomended tags are. Is anyone else having this problem?

xx E. Munchkin

Well I didn’t see that coming.

I am unable to upload my podcast as a MP3 onto AMunchkin’sWordWorld so I am going to upload it through a different way. Sorry for the outrageously old youtube account (I made it YEARS ago) but this is where I will post it then link it here. And other future podcasts if I ever decide to do another one.

Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cr56r69Fvg

It took a while, a lot of swearing, many retakes, more swearing when the podcast had to be changed into a video and other complexities but it is finally done.

Thank you for sticking along with me for this bumpy podcasting journey full of swearing and the like. I hope you enjoyed it!

This was my first podcast but please leave comments below (no flames please)

Authors mentioned in this Podcast:

Rainbow Rowell : http://rainbowrowell.com

Marissa Meyer : http://www.marissameyer.com/

Sara Gruen : http://saragruen.com/

 

Websites and Programs mentioned in this Podcast:

NaNoWriMo : www.nanowrimo.org

Audacity : http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

Lab Results #8: The Debriefing of a Library Technician in Training

Today’s Multimedia debriefing is brought to you by: cherry tea and the lab set out by my teacher. Oh and the Winnipeg Transit Bus drivers who got me to school on time! Cause if they didn’t that would be disasterous.

When I first opened the lab I blinked for a second trying to remember what the heck Social book marking is then I realized that I have never heard of it! It was a bit of a shocker since I am always on the computer or reading; woulda thought it would have come up at some point. As my eyes wandered across the words of the first activity I suddenly realized what Social Bookmarking is and I did a mental facepalm. Then groaned under my breath.

1- Define social bookmarking in your own words.

Social Bookmarking is a simple form of saving relevant websites to a sharing site such as Delicious, Digg or Reddit. These websites are open to share world wide so there is a continous stream of new websites that are interesting and fun when you search with a keyword or tag.

For example: if I searched for “book reviews” or “libraries” then all articles that have been tagged with those words will be brought into view.

Pretty sweet eh?

2- Have you or do you use social bookmarking?

I have not used social bookmarking but I have a friend who do and it seems to help her. I know that I have a lot of websites that I frequent, and frequently forget, so it may be an advantage for me. Its scary how many sites I have in my bookmark…just thinking about it makes my head spin!

a- If you have used it, what did you use it for?

Uh…I don’t use it but my friends do. One of my friends, the head librarian technician at my highschool, uses it to bookmark sites that give good book reviews, articles that are related to libraries, and overall just about everything that catches her eye.

If Pintrest is considered a social bookmarking site then I have used a social bookmarking site.

b- If you haven’t used it before, do you think you might start using it now, and in what context?

I am seriously considering using Delicious but Digg also has some interesting posts that I have been looking through. StumbleUpon in my opinion seems to be a site layed out like Delicious. Though Delicious seems to be more mobile because I can load the app onto my ipod touch. Though it would only work when I have a wireless connection…

I would be using Delicious, or whatever social bookmarking site I choose, in a variety of ways because I am a munchkin of many interests. Articles related to books (reviews, movies turned from books, etc), writing (NaNoWriMo, tutorials, advice, critiques, etc) craftiness like crochetting and knitting. Overall I would use it for more than what I have just listed.

I suppose, since this is a school assignment, that I would use it for school assignments when I need information on a subject which is related to Library and Information Technology Science. Search Library and maybe something will pop up.

3- How could social bookmarking be useful or beneficial to patrons and staff in libraries?

I think that social bookmarking would be useful for both patrons and the staff of libraries because it opens the doors to a much broader source of information not just locally but world wide. Although the information may be broader by range that does not mean library staff are unable to retrieve more specific information.

With the help of tags libraries can breathe new articles with information into the face of the patrons. These are articles are ones that patrons can use with the knowledge that it has been read over with a critical eye. Libraries can also use the articles to further and expand its reach. Plus there are a great deal of benefits to see what is happening all over the world in other libraries.

Bed is my Best Friend

I want my bed. I want to sleep and just feel pathetic by myself.

But no. Instead I have school. I feel bad for my teacher because here I am sitting right in front of her flapping my hands, arms and using over the top facial expressions but not speaking.

I lost my voice this morning. I literally croaked good morning to my dad and that was it.

I’ve been like this since Thursday night. I missed school on Friday because I didn’t want to make everyone else sick but now I have to be here. In my classes you can’t miss too much or you will fall so far behind that it’s nearly impossible to catch up. Plus I happen to have a business computer teacher who not only would make it his mission to tease me the next time I step foot into class that my boyfriend kept me up all night (I would just do my best arm flailing at him in response); he would also decide not to take pity on me if I missed any assignments over the weekend (which I have this feeling I did).

I slept a lot this weekend. During the day I slept and then I spent a good hour or so coughing and drinking a ton of juice before I could even fall asleep. Last night I listened to Marianas Trench’s entire Master Piece Theatre album because it really helped me relax before I fell asleep. I can always listen to their music on repeat and never get bored. Did you know they are from Vancouver, Canada?

Lets see…what else about my weekend was interesting?

Oh, here in Winnipeg the Irish Association of Manitoba has their headquarters and yesterday was the AGM (Annual General Meeting) which I obviously could not attend. My boyfriend, the actual leprechaun between the two of us, went and represented me as I am working on reestablishing, cataloguing, and essentially bringing the library back to life.

Even though I am not Irish I am working really hard to bring back this library to life.

My main reason for doing so is because seeing all these beautiful books not being used and feeling outraged when members of the IAM tell me that people are just going in there and taking books with the intent to not return them. My second reason is that after asking a number of members in the club, some who are getting older and others who have small families, I found that many wanted the library running again because it will be keeping a strong hold on their heritage and because it will be a way for the next generation to learn about where they have come from.

I just hope I can do it justice.

My boyfriend was nominated to the Board of Directors (congrats!) which is awesome! I know he takes a great deal of pride being Irish. Its going to be fun seeing him working with the others on the Board and hopefully they can make the IAM even better. Not going to lie but it also helps because I can go straight to him if I need anything for the library or need to know where I stand on certain issues that include the library.

Right now though I just feel plain sick and not particularly interested in doing much besides sleeping.

A Sneak Peak into a Librarian in Training’s Booklife.

Tomorrow is bookhaul day! Yes I have many books to display for you guys tomorrow; not all because I forgot to keep a list of them.

Mostly the books are from the library but I do have a few that I purchased at some stores in Winnipeg. I also tend to read a lot of young adult but I am working on some more “adult” books as well. There are really so many books out there and my goodreads list of “To-Read” is pretty much as long as the distance between here and Pluto…or maybe farther!

Sneak Peak on what I aquired:

• lots of Gothic, Pirates, and Steampunk
• a new character bringing a fresh face to a classic series
• a new POV which brings the curse of being dead-but-not-really and smashes it to bits with a way better emotion.
• some sickness brings people together

Sneak Peak on what books I want:

• the second and third books of a series that I have been trying to read for the past 5 years (and getting the first book back in May)
• I am a pack rat, so this book looks fantastic.
• There were so many movies that were originally books I saw this summer (but I didn’t know that when I saw them) that I want for my birthday and christmas

Hope that gives you a good taste of what is to come tomorrow. I am looking forward to what you guys think about my taste in books!