Second Floor Solitude

The Skokie Library is surprisingly packed today – which is funny because it’s a beautiful 61 degrees outside (meaning no jacket necessary and I’m totally wearing my flippy floppies!) My “usual” spot here is on the second floor in the reference section overlooking the courtyard, pictured here:

I am a slightly obsessive creature of habit and this particular table has been deemed mine. I love it because I have my back to the book-stacks while I look outside and I have easy access to a plug for my laptop. No one can see my computer unless they are on the other side of the bookcase and that’s the only sort of thing a creepy stalker-type would do. I have a feeling if someone were that interested in what I was doing that I would in fact feel their creepy gaze. Thankfully, that hasn’t happened.

With the entire top floor being packed and no tables with easy access to outlets, I was shunned to the main floor… aka amateur hour. You’re allowed to have conversations on this floor, you can use your cell phone and the children and teens departments are both located on opposite sides. I would even go as far as to say there is a containment spell on the first floor to keep all of the bag lady, disheveled and crazy types from climbing the stairs. (Just to note, basic attention to personal hygiene makes one appear less crazy, a little effort goes a LONG way people!) To make matters worse, I had the option of facing the crazy or turning my back on it and allowing everyone to see my monitor, and with the constant stream of strange it is increasingly difficult for me to concentrate on my applications.

My father warned me about the crazies at the library and I scoffed at him for thinking such things. Apparently, they have had problems with bums in Tampa frequenting the library and literally stinking up the place. The day he mentioned this, I was at my favorite table surrounded by a nursing student, two engineering students working on a project and a presumably Orthodox Jew reading an Israeli newspaper… written in Hebrew. Yeah, the second floor doesn’t tolerate riff raff.

This day feels like such a waste, and I really, really, really hate that. Someone has just brought out squeaky toys… I think its time to call it a day.