Whenever I present at a conference, I like to assess how I think it went afterwards. This week, I thought I nailed it. The chat was lively, there was lots of Q&A, and people were @ing me on Twitter. On top of that, I just felt damn good with the work I presented. I rode that high for a couple of days.

Here's what else was good in my week:
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• I attended a phenomenal online conference
• Frozen garlic bread
• Our kiddo asking me for help identifying the critters in all of her animal crackers
• The outright camp of Leverage: Redemption
• I know they're awful for the environment, but sanitizing cleaning wipes make my life so much easier on a daily basis
• Having a lie down on a weekend afternoon. Not a nap. Just a lie down.
• Amazon's "Wake Up, Chill" playlist
• Seeing our kiddo play host at home to a friend and happily share all her toys
• All the flowers in our neighborhood
• Tasty leftovers

The spring semester at my University is about to wrap up. Things are ending a bit later this year, so I have a shorter interim period in which to plan what I want to tackle over the summer.

Normally, since things are slower, I try to add a few more complex projects to my list. I don't think I'm going to do that this summer. I've got carry over things from this year (and last summer to be honest) that I want off my list. Instead of doing new things, I'm declaring this the summer of clearing out as many Trello cards as possible.

Here's what else has my attention.

WORK

• The main work thing happening in my work life right now is the Conference on Academic Library Management. I presented yesterday and CALM has sessions every day this week. It's, hands down, one of the best online conferences I've experienced. The presenters have been open and vulnerable, but the blue sky talk is limited. It's mostly actionable learning and ideas. I love that!
• I'm prepping lots of content to go out on our social media during finals week. This is one of my favorite assignments each semester.
• Still converting LibGuides to the new template. So close to finishing!

PERSONAL

• I'm finally getting around to converting some accounts over to the living trust we set up. One problem I'm running into is just who to contact at some of the institutions. Contact emails should not be so damn hard to find!
• Decided it was time to go on one of my unsubscribing binges. I cleared out all my newsletters, social media follows, RSS feeds, and other things that have not posted content in the last six months. Now, I'm thoroughly assessing everything else as it lands in front me. This happens about twice a year, but I'm mentally prepared to stop adding things to my plate now. 

You would think, that librarians would just find answers.

We do - but we also ask a lot of questions.

When we work with people, we want to make sure that we are answering their questions fully and completely. Oftentimes, that means we have to draw out the real reason for the question. Sometimes being asked "do you have X" or "can you tell me about Y" is not the full question.

To get to the heart of the matter, we're trained to conduct reference interviews. We ask just as many questions as are asked of us. Some of the techniques include:

• Repeating the original question
• Asking the person to define what they need or mean
• Actively listening for tone and verbal cues
• Asking clarifying and open-ended questions
• Asking what work the person has already done (or the information they've already found)
• Asking for confirmation if our research is on the right track
• Confirming that we have answered the question fully

This skill is useful outside of the library, too. I've found I have more meaningful conversations because asking the right questions elicits a deeper connection. 

Every spring, I look forward to the day when it's possible to open the windows. I adore these weeks when we can turn off our heat, open the windows as far as they will go, and enjoy the fresh air.

In our area, however, there is one major downside to this time of the year. Pollen. Lots and lots of pollen.

When we leave our windows open, inevitably we get a fine layer of green over almost everything we own. This is most visible on the black IKEA bookcase we use as a sofa table. Last week, I dusted it to a pristine clean on Thursday. We opened the windows and less than 2 hours later, there was a fine spray of pollen all over the top. When I clean our surfaces now, I wipe up a gross - but also oddly satisfying - greeny yellow dust. 

I'm willing to put up with this because letting in the cool breezes and fresh air makes it all worth it. I see windows open season as a way to put winter behind me and welcome the warmth. In spring, I always feel some pep in my step, a boost in my mood, and the desire to tackle new projects.

What's your favorite/least favorite part of spring?

I just nabbed a tiny chocolate duck out of our candy dish. The grandparents sent Easter candy before the holiday, and most of it is still around. I'm glad I have the option to satisfy my sweet tooth without too much trouble.

Here's what else was good in my week:

• Kiddo is home today because her daycare is closed... and she's napping!
• The burgers from the restaurant next door to our building.
• I reveled in my hotel night off from parenting. It was glorious!
• The Hubby made sous vide duck a l'orange.
• Bridgerton being very rewatchable.
• Our neighborhood has erupted with spring flowers.
• Kiddo's current favorite books are D&D themed.
• Two meetings that are usually loooooooong were much shorter than usual.
• Canva

I have thoughts on the ending of mask mandates. Many thoughts. I will spare you the diatribe.

Here's what else has my attention at the moment.

WORK

• We just wrapped up the last interview for one of our open positions. Now we move on to the recommendation and offer side of things. I am *fingers crossing* that our first pick accepts but I also really like our second option. Guess that's a good problem to have.
• I'm making headway on converting our LibGuides over to the new template. Slim chance I actually finish this month instead of next.
• Making final edits on the collection form and website for the faculty research index. Hope to start collecting and importing information soon.
• I present at CALM next week. (AH!) I wrote an extensive outline and am now drafting slides.

PERSONAL

• Did one of those super deep spring cleans of our home. I'm talking dusting the baseboards, vacuuming under the couch, and decrumbing the toaster oven sort of deep cleans.
• Finally got around to drawing out my bullet journal page for my letter of the year.
• As a part of our estate planning, I am working on developing a letter of instruction for our kiddo. We have the guardianship all legally established, but now I want to handle the more emotional/logistical side of things. 
• Still working on my backlog of photo management. I have been keeping up with getting things off my phone, but now I'm dealing with file naming and foldering.

The Flatshare
Beth O'Leary

Thanks to a lot of time devoted to reading this past weekend, I am already three-quarters through this one already.

​In my mind, the premise is kind of a stretch, but I love how the author is telling the story. It’s a modern spin on the epistolary novel and I find the whole thing delightful and charming.

I'm not sure if this is true of all Type-A personalities or just my Type-A personality, but I have to plan my free time.

Case in point... Saturday was the start of my 24-hours off from parenting. My husband and I agreed that we would each get two this year and I decided to schedule my first one for this weekend. I packed up a suitcase full of snacks, spa supplies, and my laptop and rolled it down the street to a hotel near our home. For 24-hours it's just me, a rewatch of Bridgerton season 2, a long hot bath, and random scrolling of the internet. 

But, I can't just enjoy this indulgence as it happens, I have to plan for it. For my one night away, I made a packing list, schedule, menu, and a spread in my bullet journal. Sure, some of the timing in the schedule is vague and I only listed some activities I'd like to do, but I still planned my entire night off down to which face masks I wanted to use.

I simply can't not plan. (You hear that? It's all my friends and family snickering in recognition.) I find that I enjoy my time more if I have a roadmap for where I'm going. My brain gets itchy if there's not a list or a schedule. I need to be able to cross things off, even on my "unproductive" days. 

Do you plan your free time?

As I write this, our new robot vacuum is motoring around cleaning our kitchen. I never thought I would get a robot vacuum but, I must confess, I fell for the good recommendation from Young House Love. Since we have a toddler, we always have crumbs about. Also, my hair likes to leave tumbleweeds. I loved the idea of having a little vacuum take care of daily maintenance cleaning. So far, it's been great! The little guy sucks up so much dust and hair; it's just plain fun to watch, too. We want our kiddo to name it, but she's not decided yet. Right now we just cheer on "little guy" and "buddy" as it sweeps up our space. This has been one of our better purchases lately. 

Here's what else has been good this week.
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• Adding a day to my already three-day weekend.
• Taking the time to super clean our home and feeling the reward of a tidy space.
• Windows open weather!
• Starting a great new book.
• The  Husband bought me sushi for lunch last weekend.
• Throwing everything in the dishwasher and running a few cycles instead of cleaning things by hand.
• Discovering I can sit cross-legged in my office chair at work.
• Seeing our kid run around a new playground with some of her daycare friends.
• The carnations we got from the grocery store are about to hit week 5 and still look good.
• Tried a new meatball recipe and it's a keeper.