Surfing the catalogue

So today I attended a very interesting seminar on ebooks and downloadable audiobooks.

The day started with presentations from 2 libraries that have downloadable audio books. Port Phillip have had the Wavesound (Clipper) product for 6 weeks and gave us an insight into how it's going so far.

One thing that struck me was that it was not a completely seamless interface - there seemed quite a few clicks from the library site to the Clipper site.

Melbourne Libraries followed with their product from Overdrive which seemed to integrate more naturally into the library catalogue.

In the afternoon we had presentations from three vendors - Wavesound (Clipper), Ebsco, & Bolinda.

The day finished with a panel consisting of the three vendors and they answered a range of questions from the audience.

It was an interesting day and certainly got me thinking about the provision of ebooks and downloadable audio books for our patrons.

It was obvious there is no one answer to the question of which product is the best -all have their strengths but hopefully I can be involved in the evaluation phase when we start to look seriously at downloadables at my library.

An aside.

One of the presenters used the term 'surfing the catalogue'. I was immediately taken by the phrase and my mind wandered into ways we could use the phrase in marketing & promotions.

Does it make the catalogue more approachable? (surfing vs searching?) or does it make absolutely no difference.

My thoughts are very much half formed at the moment - I have some ideas that I might play with when I have a moment.

It's cold outside

and it's cold inside too.

I type this huddled in dressing gowns & snuggie - in front of the heater - watching television cos I'm too lazy too put on a dvd (or do anything else for that matter)

I've watched Hogans Heroes (even though I can quote most episodes), relocation relocation (feel very qualified now to buy property in the UK), spicks n specks, more relocation relocation (this time in Scotland with its offers over property buying system). Tom & Fiona are looking for a flat in Glasgow and a house on the shores of Loch Lomond - I'm very envious.

I've also been knitting - I'm basically knitting tension squares in different wools & patterns with a plan to sew them eventually into a blanket (or, more likely, to turn into a pile of tension squares in various wools & patterns!)

Hopefully tomorrow will be warmer and I'll feel more energetic... but then again...

Och aye the noo?

So the munnsterling made me go into town today because I was watching the national spelling bee and so instead she dragged me kicking and screaming to Typo (where she made me buy things).

On the train home we got to Richmond just in time for 'the game is too one-sided and its very wet so let's leave at 3/4 time' crowd to join us.

A woman in full Carlton regalia sat down opposite me and I asked her who had won the footy. She told me and then asked me what part of Scotland I was from.

I looked at her quizzically (or like she was insane) and she responded that I had a lovely scottish accent.

WTF?

Now I do have scottish relatives but I'm aussie born & bred and I'm pretty sure the only words I'd uttered since she got on the train were "excuse me, who won the footy?" (in my normal accent which is pure australian - or so I thought)

She continued to admire my 'accent' until we parted company at Auburn station.

The people around us just looked bemused.

Luckily I hadn't told her my name (which probably would have reinforced her opinion of my 'scottishness'

toothless anniversary

WARNING: contains what's left of my teeth.

Today is the one week anniversary of my teeth outing.

Gotta say it's been nowhere bad as expected.

* Pain - very manageable,

* swelling - i'm 'adorably chubby cheeked' but not bulbously swollen,

* bruising - ok my face has some very yellow patches atm

* eating - have graduated from soup to mashed potato, and don't need to wait for the ice cream to melt,

Still needing a lot of sleep but other than that the Freemasons team did a great job.

Really less teeth now

WARNING: contains self indulgent me and post dentistry stuff.

Back home after 4 nights @ my sister's.

The surgery etc went way better than I expected.

I was supposed to be @ Freemasons at 1pm.

At 1.01 I was ushered into a prep room where I signed the first of many, many forms that said my name, address, date of birth, on the stickers etc were correct.

I also got weighed (fully clothed including shoes & beanie so I refuse to accept the weight listed!)

I also got labelled (right wrist, right ankle) gowned & dressing gowned & met my admitting nurse, theatre nurse, anaesthetic nurse, anaesthetist, and surgeon - each time signing numerous forms.

I was a bit worried that the surgery might not go ahead. I'd just gotten over a head cold and had a slight cough - exacerbated by the no water fast which meant my throat was a little red & my voice a tad raspy. However the anaesthetist made me say aarrh and checked for congestion before saying I was fine (thank goodness btw, did not want to extend panic any longer)

I was booked into theatre at 2pm. And at 1.55pm the nurse walked me into the theatre (with a stop at the warm blanket place for a beautifully warm blanket.)

I lay down on the operating table, the anaesthetist complained that he was having trouble finding a vein on my left wrist. He was gently thumping my wrist while the nurse talked to me.

The anaesthetist said I'd feel a slight sting, the nurse started attaching electrodes (monitors maybe?) and then I woke up in recovery and it was just after 3.15pm.

The admitting nurse had told my sister that I should be in recovery about 3.15pm. They offered me jelly and ice cream (I settled for lemonade and water).

Played thumbs up with young Lisa who'd gone in after me. They let TappingBetty (my sister) in about 3.30 to see me and my 3.45 I was dressed and sitting in a recliner rocker while TappingBetty went to the pharmacy and got my prescriptions filled.

They'd given me local anaesthetics in the sites of each extraction so that my mouth felt incredibly numb and I felt incredibly tired.

Somehow made it to TappingBetty's car about 4.45. In bed by 7 slept thru til 5.30 the next morning.

So far it's mainly been tiredness that's been a problem. i have a large bruise on my right cheek - current theory is the anaesthetist couldn't find a vein so punched me instead.

Glad it's over.

Even more, less teeth

WARNING: contains self indulgent me stuff & dentistry

Tomorrow is D (dental surgery) day.

I've rung Freemason's & confirmed my appointment.

I've rung the surgeon & confirmed him. Interesting aside (well not really).

Apparently the payment form that I posted @ Sydney Central GPO in an overnight express post bag at 9.30 am on Thursday has not yet arrived in suburban Essendon. (WTF) so I've given the receptionist the credit card details on the phone. The $ amount she mentioned was quite a bit less than what I expected and I sort of (in a stunned sort of way) queried it.

The surgeon had written 2 x $900 which I took to mean $1800

but no apparently it means 2 = $900 so an immediate saving of several thousand dollars which made me that much happier (in so far as I'm having 8 teeth out tomorrow can be happier)

18 hours to go.

Have packed my bag - I'll be staying at my sister's tomorrow night - I seem to be taking more stuff to her place than I took to Sydney last week!

Have set the alarm for 6am so that I can have breakfast as I have to fast from 7am.

Wish me luck

More Less Teeth required

Warning: contains self indulgent me stuff & dental fears.

My dentist assured me that the surgeon was 'lovely so I bravely headed to see him. Don't know about lovely but didn't scare me any more than I already was (always a good thing).

He disagreed slightly with the dentist - she had 3 wisdom teeth & 4 others, he went for 4 wisdoms and 4 others - chances were, he thought, that wisdom 4 would cause probs in the next couple of years so it should come out now rather than then.

Then we arranged a date for the surgery (May 25 - 3 weeks away) and he made me sign a forms that I had read and understood what he had told me; the risks associated with surgery, and that the surgery needed to be paid for 72 hours in advance and that it would cost me a small fortune.

He gave me a 'quote' for the work and I made my shell shocked way home...