tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-217122132024-03-10T03:22:04.693-05:00StandUpLibrarian.comLIBRARIAN. COMEDIAN. DESIGNER. WRITER. ADVOCATE.Meredith Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07008769783024686195noreply@blogger.comBlogger155125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21712213.post-47205071706518219232020-06-01T18:48:00.000-05:002020-06-01T18:48:03.519-05:00Happy 10th Anniversary Stand-Up Librarian!!!I can't believe it has been 10 years since I created Stand-Up Librarian. Happy 10th Anniversary to me (funny how I just totally ignored the 9th anniversary I guess.) <br />
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Once again, I am completely overwhelmed and exhausted to try and summarize my thoughts of the past 10 years because for the past 2 months, I have been sewing face masks all day, every day, to help fight this Covid-19 pandemic. So far I have sewed 1,522 masks in just under 2 months, something I never envisioned would ever be my full-time job way back in 2010. But here I am, busy as ever! If you need one, pop over to my <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/MeredithMyersDesigns" target="_blank">Etsy shop</a>! <br />
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I think when I do look back to the weekend in 2010 when I decided to combine my comedy career with my library degree and create Stand-Up Librarian, I just wanted to be of service. I thought using my sense of humor and love of reading to promote literacy and libraries in fun ways while I applied for library jobs would be both productive for me and beneficial for the library community. As I had a background in public relations (and I knew how expensive those services cost), I thought offering my PR services for free to libraries, authors, and anyone in the book community would be appreciated. I had so many fun ideas of things I wanted to do! So I did them (mostly alone, unfortunately, as not everybody always understood them at first which was often sad and confusing to me, but thankfully, I had enough confidence in myself and some great friends and family supporting me to continue to stand-up to the challenges I faced and not quit.<br />
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My favorite book has always been <i>The Alchemist</i> by Paulo Coelho. It is a story about pursuing your dreams but learning along the journey of the treasures you have always carried within. I have countless copies of this book from the many journeys I have been on in my life, highlighting and making notes in these paperbacks when I reread it every year whenever I felt lost or my path unclear. It has taken me years to realize that applying for jobs and trying to fit in the qualifications of a job descriptions was a pointless task utilizing hours of my time that should have been put into myself. When I created Stand-Up Librarian, I had the hope that someone would discover me and see my passion for libraries and hire me. After five long years and hundreds of job applications later, someone finally did. But he met me as the Stand-Up Librarian, wearing a book dress I made and selling my literary purses and accessories at a book fair I was the spokesperson for. I had also performed my literary parody songs the night before and been featured in several newspapers. He would later hire me without my ever having to apply for the job or offer a resume. I would spend the next five years building a library from scratch where I would also become friends with a co-worker who loved to read as much as I did and would eventually become my husband. I share this story because some of the best things in life happen because you create the things that make you happiest and then the right opportunities find you. <br />
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Lastly, I figured I would share ten of my favorite things I accomplished over the past ten years. Some were crazy ideas that became goals to attain and others just came out of left field and turned into incredible adventures I never could have planned. I am so grateful to all of my friends and fans that I have been there with me the past 10 years attending my shows, buying items from my shop, reading my blog and news articles, following me on social media, and for all the literary love you have shared with me. Thank you so much. <br />
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So, Happy 10th Anniversary Stand-Up Librarian. I got you the perfect gift...<br />
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<u>10 GOALS MET OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS OF STAND-UP LIBRARIAN:</u><br />
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1. Interview authors, librarians and tour unique libraries for my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/StandUpLibrarian" target="_blank">You Tube channel</a> (2011)<br />
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2. Perform literary comedy show at library (2011) and make entrance on book cart (2012)<br />
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3. Sew literary fashions to wear on stage and sell them at my own <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/MeredithMyersDesigns" target="_blank">shop</a> (2012)<br />
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4. Be literary rock star singing own songs about books (2012)<br />
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*Videos at my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/StandUpLibrarian" target="_blank">You Tube channel</a>!</div>
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5. Attend opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter-Diagon Alley as journalist (2014)<br />
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6. Plan James Joyce/Bloomsday event and ask Guinness to sponsor so can have free beer (2014)<br />
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7. Build library from scratch (2015 - 2019)<br />
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8. Adopt orange cat and name him Ulysses. (Finnegan Butterbeer adopted 2016)<br />
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9. Meet cute guy at library who likes to read and cook. (Met him in 2015/Married him in 2020)<br />
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10. Write bestselling book. (TBD)<br />
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Stand-Up Librarian Meredith Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13611393954053820223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21712213.post-32824020032435542882018-06-01T12:05:00.000-05:002018-06-01T12:10:01.481-05:00Happy 8th Anniversary Stand-Up Librarian!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIIpxPr5eZGtTDr6x58OdFHnuSmlpKI89qOU_G7IKzvcnz1PNdUJtF2nqwYVUjqgmxJM5Zcva1rI9evZ7eS5QJBsTnpYVMtr2VdxPWUq-5m9LnNYY72uAZkWrF2R1nOh_Ekdh-kg/s1600/MMLibrary2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIIpxPr5eZGtTDr6x58OdFHnuSmlpKI89qOU_G7IKzvcnz1PNdUJtF2nqwYVUjqgmxJM5Zcva1rI9evZ7eS5QJBsTnpYVMtr2VdxPWUq-5m9LnNYY72uAZkWrF2R1nOh_Ekdh-kg/s200/MMLibrary2015.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWRygWNuYFs70JEOWqsmn9_L9Hh9HL-PBglK6uYV4x1J2yp5lJY_h2o_4_67Zc73TPEsesm2Y_lJl7hlG1M3RY1kA9WeooOd7KfF1DvNgTPDMbDPS_K4dB5gvqVeRlY_k3boZOLQ/s1600/MMLibraryStandingOnChair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 238); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWRygWNuYFs70JEOWqsmn9_L9Hh9HL-PBglK6uYV4x1J2yp5lJY_h2o_4_67Zc73TPEsesm2Y_lJl7hlG1M3RY1kA9WeooOd7KfF1DvNgTPDMbDPS_K4dB5gvqVeRlY_k3boZOLQ/s200/MMLibraryStandingOnChair.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Library before (2015) and after (2018).</i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In this eighth year of Stand-Up Librarian, I am wrapping things up at the library and trying to decide how to move forward.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I admit to being slightly lost and confused as I have gotten away from performing and writing – </span><i style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">things I always thought were pretty important to me </i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">– and instead, allowed my on-again/off-again job at the library and my on-again/off-again relationship with my boyfriend to both occupy most of my time.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s understandable I guess, you think something is done and you start to shift gears and then they pull you back in for one reason or another.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">However, now as I sit here for my once a year post, I am ready to put myself first again.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’m just not sure how to do it anymore.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I guess I will get back to you next year with the results.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Completing the Gracegate Library this year was quite the accomplishment for so many reasons - <i>most of which weren't included in the two articles written about us</i> (but thanks again to the<i> <a href="http://www.tampabay.com/news/The-real-Jefferson-Memorial-has-a-statue-but-this-one-has-a-jukebox-_165771120">Tampa Bay Times</a></i> and <a href="http://www.tbnweekly.com/clearwater_beacon/tarpon-springs-man-brings-boyhood-memory-to-life-by-building/article_229501be-53a5-11e8-810a-e370cb2030e1.html"><i>Tampa Bay Newspapers</i></a> for their wonderful pieces.) After all, the library was my work – every item catalogued, labeled, shelved and <i>loved </i>by me - so as a result, I had become pretty attached to the place over the past three years. But despite my hopes to have a future here with the place full of people - <i>ideas and plans I offered my boss numerous times as my background is in public relations, event planning and literary/library programs!</i> - he reminded me over and over that he only hired me to catalogue and assemble the library, making it clear to me my work was done...<i>or until he calls me to catalog more things he bought.</i> Not exactly a gig you can build your life around, right? So as I put the signage on the walls and made sure all 10,873 items were perfectly in place on the shelves, I took a few photos and walked out the door. What happened to the place wasn’t up to me anymore. Like a lot of things in my life right now, I needed to put the experience in the archives and move on.<span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thanks to having pretty consistent work for several years, I finally had enough money saved to take my dream vacation to London to celebrate my birthday last October…and I did it alone and it</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> was</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">literary </i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">awesome!</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I had gotten my Harry Potter and the Cursed Child play ticket almost two years before and booked a tour to visit the film sets in person and both were as magical as this muggle anticipated.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The British Library launched their exhibit Harry Potter: A History of Magic the day before my birthday and as a aspiring writer, what a thrill it was to see J.K. Rowling’s manuscripts and handwritten plans in person.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Of course, I visited the Sherlock Holmes and Charles Dickens museums and had drinks, dinners, and walking tours at so many literary spots.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tea parties at Claridges, Browns and Mr. Foggs were must dos as was seeing my favorite British comedian Ricky Gervais.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was all a reminder that being alone really isn't so bad after all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Two other things that have brought me incredible joy over the past year are my cat Finnegan and scuba diving.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Finn continues to be the best cat ever as he loves the outdoors walking on his leash, spending time with his dog friends and tolerates me putting him in costumes at the holidays.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He truly is a model cat and not just because he works as one showing off my pet harnesses and bow ties at my </span><a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/MeredithMyersDesigns" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Etsy shop</a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> (my best seller being the </span><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/513325654/fantastic-beasts-dogcat-harness?ref=shop_home_active_8" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fantastic Beasts harness</a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> – thank you my fellow Harry Potter fans!)</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Getting certified in scuba back in March of 2017 was something I had wanted to do for years and now I wonder why I hesitated - I absolutely love it!</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the past year, I have done some twenty dives all around Florida and found beautiful seashells and swam with sharks, sea turtles, and even a Goliath grouper larger than me!</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hope I can continue to explore our oceans for many years to come.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Maybe someone is looking for a Scuba Diving Librarian?</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now that would be cool.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So for now, I will get back to applying for library jobs, sewing my literary (and scuba diving) fashions, and writing a new book (not to mention, editing the one that has been done for years...what a procrastinator, huh? haha) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As always, thanks for joining me on this journey and as the great Charles Dickens' wrote <i>"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..."</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Meredith<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Stand-Up Librarian Meredith Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13611393954053820223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21712213.post-12889533367371548092017-06-05T15:06:00.001-05:002017-06-05T15:13:22.479-05:00Happy 7th Anniversary StandUpLibrarian.com!<div style="text-align: justify;">
Seven years has gone by since creating Stand-Up Librarian, and did I celebrate? No. I worked at the library and went to bed early. Now I know how married people must feel. In the beginning, it's all champagne toasts and blog posts but after seven years, you are just grateful to still be around. </div>
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And I am!</div>
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I've been working at the library for over two years now, spending the past year cataloging DVDs, Blu-ray discs, vinyl records, and as of this week, I start working on the CDs. That's like over 5,000 items! And the cool thing is I have done most them from home on a laptop computer. Oh, the perks of technology.</div>
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Stand-Up Librarian Designs is going great as well. Thanks to adopting an adorable cat that likes to walk on a leash (more on that below), I started making pet accessories! And my Finn is the perfect model.</div>
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I am also very proud to share - in honor of this 7th anniversary - my first ever jewelry item! A <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/534498685/personalized-open-book-sterling-silver?ref=shop_home_feat_1">personalized open book sterling silver pendant</a> that I designed and made in the library jewelry workshop. Yep, my library is very special in so many ways, this being one of them. It is now available at my <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/MeredithMyersDesigns">Etsy shop</a>.</div>
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I've still been working on the book but not as much as I hoped with having a full-time library job and fashion business to keep me busy. I did however go back to the Eckerd College Writers in Paradise Writers Conference in January and work on my manuscript with the incredible author Ann Hood. I learned a lot from her and my classmates and from their input, I hope to make some changes that are necessary to prepare it more for publication.</div>
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Finally, the most important thing I did in the last year is adopt my sweet cat Finnegan Butterbeer C.K. named after authors James Joyce (Finnegan's Wake) and J.K. Rowling (butterbeer being my favorite thing in Harry Potter), and my fellow ginger comedian Louis C.K. Finn has truly added to my life in so many ways from inspiring me to create new things in my accessory line (and many costumes for us to wear!) to teaching me the responsibility of being a parent and most importantly, giving me the unconditional love, companionship and laughter that I so desperately need. That's not to say that I don't get that from my on and off boyfriend that I have had for almost two years, but when you work mostly by yourself and from home cataloging, sewing, and writing, it can at times be extremely lonely and isolating. Finn has kept me company by either sitting next to me at my sewing desk or in the box of library materials as I catalog. Of course, he spends most of his time in the library, sleeping in his book box under my card catalog and even has his own special section where he keeps his book scratching post and all of his cat books. He has absolutely become my muse and I hope to incorporate him in future library events when I have the time to do them again. Yes, I miss performing very much and I hope when the time is right that I will be back to doing it.</div>
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For now, I am just so happy that after seven long years, I am still here. If only once a year on the blog but always, always standing up for libraries. I am grateful to be a librarian but nothing makes me prouder than being a Stand-Up Librarian. A word I created seven years ago for a job that just didn't exist until I decided libraries needed one. Thanks again to those who believed in me when nobody else did. </div>
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To stay in touch with what I am up to, you can find me (and Finnegan) on Instagram (Me: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/standuplibrarian/">@standuplibrarian</a> Finn: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/finneganbutterbeerck/">@finneganbutterbeerck</a> )which is where I spend most of my time online these days.<br />
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Have a great summer!<br />
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Meredith<br />
Crazy Cat Lady & Stand-Up Librarian</div>
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Stand-Up Librarian Meredith Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13611393954053820223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21712213.post-68646791721661206202016-06-01T00:25:00.000-05:002016-06-01T00:25:19.246-05:00Happy 6th Anniversary StandUpLibrarian.com!<div class="MsoNormal">
Has it been six years? Wow. Instead of looking back like I always do, reminiscing on the past and what I've learned, I’m going
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1) As of last week, I am back at the library cataloging thousands of DVDs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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2) I'm selling some new products at my <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/MeredithMyersDesigns">Etsy</a> shop thanks to a new sewing machine!</div>
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3) Later this month, I’ll be covering <a href="http://2016.alaannual.org/">ALA Orlando 2016</a> as a freelance writer
for <i>American Libraries</i> magazine.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p>4) In July, I will be doing some shows.</o:p></div>
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5) Finishing up edits on my manuscript so I can get this thing published before <i>I</i> am sixty.</div>
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6) And well, I’ve got a couple of other things in the works that I hope to share soon.</div>
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Thanks to all the people that continue to lift me up and remind me that I am not done yet.</div>
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Meredith</div>
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Stand-Up Librarian Meredith Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13611393954053820223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21712213.post-3143010422212011692016-02-26T14:15:00.000-05:002016-02-27T10:10:04.715-05:00Life Happens<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Not sure what happened to the last six months.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Oh right. Full-time library job. Relationship. Holidays.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4aNHhSZLpmV_aDwLDCeYL-jhJkS7kBEys_UZ6xEW9YzR0JdAzeyaAyIrs38n8MGC39-O39B24mFsrwmt-E-Fa-04UhXzBWv0HSyjVSoFK8445KMEj151UYq2zv0Dg8s2AzYtBXw/s200/IMG_2771.jpg" width="200" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Bf291gf_mGwAVVG-4qlXgvzFiXkyMBB4Bn-0egYmxySgMFNM94u5CnPpUx8gIjxFDo51paNySY6Em9H3sVAmMwSqiSSvzTkE4oD_o3DYd1zvuy2aVR8rsEp2nhdvuhnyf7u3bw/s1600/IMG_0281.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Bf291gf_mGwAVVG-4qlXgvzFiXkyMBB4Bn-0egYmxySgMFNM94u5CnPpUx8gIjxFDo51paNySY6Em9H3sVAmMwSqiSSvzTkE4oD_o3DYd1zvuy2aVR8rsEp2nhdvuhnyf7u3bw/s200/IMG_0281.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhRJrt7wa8AH-DauuMz8PVnoFPprA5JVLEpgdIHDg3vxom_ROYhKE_XtZodc4d0itcJtYD0b22qgLk901hfNzA_3aPq5KPjQqWRzV90WX_NlEXovvdA0mQsAzmh7iBe3mXx7R9g/s1600/IMG_8998.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhRJrt7wa8AH-DauuMz8PVnoFPprA5JVLEpgdIHDg3vxom_ROYhKE_XtZodc4d0itcJtYD0b22qgLk901hfNzA_3aPq5KPjQqWRzV90WX_NlEXovvdA0mQsAzmh7iBe3mXx7R9g/s200/IMG_8998.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Truth is, I got distracted. By life. Who can blame me really. The past ten years has been full of so many ups and downs that it was nice to finally have a steady income with a regular job to go to. And then thanks to that job, I met someone that I wanted to spend my free time with. When I had any. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I was happy (and exhausted), but I don’t regret a single choice that I made.<br /><br />Still, in working that job as a cataloging librarian for this guy that had built his own dream library, (where I finally fulfilled my goal of becoming a professional librarian yet had to drive two hours a day to do it), I quickly realized that everything I had built over the past five years was going to have to take a backseat. There just weren’t enough hours in the day (or energy in my body) to continue to perform shows, work on my book, write for <i><a href="http://cltampa.com/tampa/Search?cx=002407891961455841536%3Azjgovamtd2o&cof=FORID%3A9&q=meredith+myers&sa=Search">Creative Loafing Tampa</a></i>, and <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/MeredithMyersDesigns?ref=hdr_shop_menu">sew purses</a>. Did I mention I was still working one day a week at <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/">Barnes & Noble</a>? And volunteering at the <a href="http://www.seewinter.com/">Clearwater Marine Aquarium</a>? I never had a day off. I was running myself into the ground. This time, mostly for other people.</span><br />
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtzN1TXjadDa54ovAonyy-xly3rH2jI7RWjRr39hpQeLPUnOs54KIVnEEzZ5IEJMA1_KJsjiiiH3SznxraZP1CaPugRnGhNOlgR3bylFOgeLdmosh5K6YRqz37CZpQkE-qw9EQbg/s1600/IMG_8191.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtzN1TXjadDa54ovAonyy-xly3rH2jI7RWjRr39hpQeLPUnOs54KIVnEEzZ5IEJMA1_KJsjiiiH3SznxraZP1CaPugRnGhNOlgR3bylFOgeLdmosh5K6YRqz37CZpQkE-qw9EQbg/s200/IMG_8191.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRu6Kef5mGkAJGLxe-Etedfhu0EDaug80AzFrQAwL0OwzZdqLFJUBB1mDHNxxwhVswkmaCc6z6A78QndmqZNB8gSNTXqwNcqXrdO4H45MJGWVYvqBSiJZ_J1GOAe-NMsTd215c3g/s1600/IMG_8959.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgjR3qzIrhckmtmMfnXnqQfmHu-UTw8hw42i0sc1Yb9BaH3hxs_1zOZ0wnHboh_YQyUlmihkW-MGfhMgW9ED38lUzrVsLNix3mQ59hp-6FwhpLe-F-xPRv2Y1c_A_P5VSYHxGxg/s1600/IMG_8942.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgjR3qzIrhckmtmMfnXnqQfmHu-UTw8hw42i0sc1Yb9BaH3hxs_1zOZ0wnHboh_YQyUlmihkW-MGfhMgW9ED38lUzrVsLNix3mQ59hp-6FwhpLe-F-xPRv2Y1c_A_P5VSYHxGxg/s200/IMG_8942.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtzN1TXjadDa54ovAonyy-xly3rH2jI7RWjRr39hpQeLPUnOs54KIVnEEzZ5IEJMA1_KJsjiiiH3SznxraZP1CaPugRnGhNOlgR3bylFOgeLdmosh5K6YRqz37CZpQkE-qw9EQbg/s1600/IMG_8191.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjIOL608Wo-xCEa9it3G9_Q_SS-U8RiWv0pdFqeVY_EVuTAWNKFWImTX9_krk0m5oMKZ4fE9rr8RUGbaAWRqh8elzlTtzIdZNFUg-BUn080pcYgF3eA9DtNNNDT__8KPvM_CsuEA/s1600/IMG_7176.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjIOL608Wo-xCEa9it3G9_Q_SS-U8RiWv0pdFqeVY_EVuTAWNKFWImTX9_krk0m5oMKZ4fE9rr8RUGbaAWRqh8elzlTtzIdZNFUg-BUn080pcYgF3eA9DtNNNDT__8KPvM_CsuEA/s200/IMG_7176.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC64PQhdOozL_InYvxQgIxpn-kuyM-dN6fOO2CjN9_C0NG723B3yNMOfQByHrf_YUPFxw9mNT2DEcAAh6yzDEbP0LPbFNDJjUwAshtrjJlnYo4wHlbCQ4OsQcCtc9EaQ1HIrBEGw/s1600/IMG_7343.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC64PQhdOozL_InYvxQgIxpn-kuyM-dN6fOO2CjN9_C0NG723B3yNMOfQByHrf_YUPFxw9mNT2DEcAAh6yzDEbP0LPbFNDJjUwAshtrjJlnYo4wHlbCQ4OsQcCtc9EaQ1HIrBEGw/s200/IMG_7343.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">At first I tried to continue to do it all, not wanting to let anyone down (mostly me), but soon discovered that writing articles for CL at 3 a.m. after a long 10-hour work day, followed by making a purse or bow tie for a customer, wasn’t resulting in my best work. Most importantly, it just wasn’t fun anymore. So I took a leave of absence from B&N, CMA & CL. Then took most of my products down from my <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/MeredithMyersDesigns?ref=hdr_shop_menu">Etsy shop</a>. My book shoved in a box in the closet. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Meanwhile, the new guy in my life loved taking care of me. And for the first time in my life, I allowed someone to. I stopped trying to be everywhere to everybody and instead fell into the comfort of being in a relationship that mostly consisted of us staying home, cooking, and watching movies. Of course, the holidays were that much better having someone by my side at family dinners and to go do fun things with like tree lightings and trips to Key West and Miami. He was also the first person to discuss wanting a future with me so I started to consider it. It was all so wonderful, like a fairy tale I had cataloged in that beautiful library.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1baBXbadhYcDyKAvXNPrNXc2xShuQSMJBS4g4hh8REUQ9XcYYKsR-DRhHup7nxM4ytl1hEV6oF96tx-g55qYpLbu6bqTUcvLBz82qjFU__b3m2kDitwNUMIqkk3urmIpxnyk5jg/s1600/IMG_7309.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1baBXbadhYcDyKAvXNPrNXc2xShuQSMJBS4g4hh8REUQ9XcYYKsR-DRhHup7nxM4ytl1hEV6oF96tx-g55qYpLbu6bqTUcvLBz82qjFU__b3m2kDitwNUMIqkk3urmIpxnyk5jg/s200/IMG_7309.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQ2fWWb8g1_rWhFBlripy8yRWAxGzYCYNbEa0HoDhvHCrD7ShHR3iboERsIJaSv_PuFCRBY12ZM5yd32VhvGAJYe7ZimxgeI7teF1Sheg6P1tEH8Hcfd7k2kxcTdtcv73LnGQDw/s1600/IMG_7375.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQ2fWWb8g1_rWhFBlripy8yRWAxGzYCYNbEa0HoDhvHCrD7ShHR3iboERsIJaSv_PuFCRBY12ZM5yd32VhvGAJYe7ZimxgeI7teF1Sheg6P1tEH8Hcfd7k2kxcTdtcv73LnGQDw/s200/IMG_7375.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrjRkQ-yglUijqFzQ0r8QDefhvI0MgMSFthRrSFl8svV_9oXiR85ZEjD25PMeG2M_rPz8gzT5HHWpFNhA_r9Ax4GVnSXHNNc0cjMA6zng-ExeMg7nwi1h1mGes6DbhShQx2RXjg/s1600/IMG_7627.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrjRkQ-yglUijqFzQ0r8QDefhvI0MgMSFthRrSFl8svV_9oXiR85ZEjD25PMeG2M_rPz8gzT5HHWpFNhA_r9Ax4GVnSXHNNc0cjMA6zng-ExeMg7nwi1h1mGes6DbhShQx2RXjg/s200/IMG_7627.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But when my cataloging job was over at the end of the year and I had put away all of the holiday decorations, (not to mention, my boyfriend going back at his job without me being there), I finally got the time to myself that I had been lacking. And, sadly, I didn’t know who I was anymore. I had spent so much time getting caught up in the role everyone else wanted me to play, I forgot about me, and what I wanted for myself. And then the things I thought I wanted – a job at a library, a companion – both took me away from the things that actually made me, ME!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The one thing I was absolutely grateful for was that I had finally paid off the credit card I had been living on the past ten years after deciding to become a librarian in January of 2006. My steady work on the cruise ship and at the library had both taken care of that. I was free. It was a great feeling. I could now start 2016 making choices that weren’t just tied to the debts of my past.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I’m now in the second month of that new journey and so far so good. I’m working a regular job again with great money that also allows me the time to work on my book that I really hope to publish this year. I got back to performing on Tuesday and it felt scary at first, but I soon remembered how happy I am up there on stage telling my silly book jokes and rapping about James Joyce in my parody songs. I also sat at the sewing machine and made a hat to wear at the show. And of course, I’m here writing to you after many many months. Sharing my story. Not necessarily funny, but always honest and real. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Andie2xhV64tIS7oJUrQGziDLv5Ozd9HKMzz1nYn8STqvCNSI9xSjc7_8I-h1-Y5RVRtjY4IyBjwJhbcyndQaRBuSdUJApW_WRfwnoQR_ESCn0aMfGkADysP9xPdCONUS-Hovw/s1600/IMG_0504.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Andie2xhV64tIS7oJUrQGziDLv5Ozd9HKMzz1nYn8STqvCNSI9xSjc7_8I-h1-Y5RVRtjY4IyBjwJhbcyndQaRBuSdUJApW_WRfwnoQR_ESCn0aMfGkADysP9xPdCONUS-Hovw/s200/IMG_0504.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ506pFW8TXj2aESU7BnfXFVlG7xs6mvEtfs5TSvLHv21yGMW5bN8Hk1GZWwB4MSHwzJbaaPsD4zdn6JC_2PIwNjxIggYUhI3v1FWzhwrXoYWIjN8d8rS1sq2AAMfPhq0cTOUgGw/s1600/IMG_0443.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ506pFW8TXj2aESU7BnfXFVlG7xs6mvEtfs5TSvLHv21yGMW5bN8Hk1GZWwB4MSHwzJbaaPsD4zdn6JC_2PIwNjxIggYUhI3v1FWzhwrXoYWIjN8d8rS1sq2AAMfPhq0cTOUgGw/s200/IMG_0443.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">That’s what I figured out. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />Life happens to all of us. That is, if we are smart enough to let it. <br /><br />Sometimes it opens our eyes to things we never imagined for ourselves, other times it acts as a reminder to the things that actually matter the most.</span><br />
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Stand-Up Librarian Meredith Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13611393954053820223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21712213.post-41057124050141927432015-08-06T11:06:00.002-05:002015-08-06T18:12:03.367-05:00Get-Pop Cultured month at Barnes & Noble!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNbNSXA3JieRYVftcJMX1G0YP_imuNQI6oCpqNAcrEQmSuynx_8JifHO49RNW0VQuQXj5mCMuc0LNJrdlzQuRdxRm8jRJHLV08L18RQ3a6t-6e2-_cUxswBHF5TZodx9oBq2Lobw/s1600/Read.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNbNSXA3JieRYVftcJMX1G0YP_imuNQI6oCpqNAcrEQmSuynx_8JifHO49RNW0VQuQXj5mCMuc0LNJrdlzQuRdxRm8jRJHLV08L18RQ3a6t-6e2-_cUxswBHF5TZodx9oBq2Lobw/s320/Read.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">READ.</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I had a blast working all of the Get-Pop Cultured events at my local <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/">Barnes & Noble</a> in St. Petersburg this past July! Like my creation of Stand-Up Librarian in 2010, it was a terrific opportunity to combine my love of creating literary outfits inspired by my favorite books while spreading the importance & fun of reading. And to think the only reason I became involved was because the community relations manager had called me back in June asking me to participate in some discussions about <i>To Kill a Mockingbird</i> and to be a celebrity reader for their Read-A-Thon! I just knew within moments of walking in that door and meeting the exceptionally kindhearted and cool staff, I wanted to spend more than one or two days at the store, I had to work with them every weekend and event! And that's how it all began...the librarian soon became a bookseller too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now over a month and a half later, I have a new set of literary friends in the bookseller community and my already full closet is now filled with an additional 13 costumes I created just to tie-in to all of the events at B&N. And if my time wasn't limited enough (yes, I am still working at the library & volunteering at the <a href="http://www.seewinter.com/">Clearwater Marine Aquarium</a>), I just had to write a few articles for <i><a href="http://cltampa.com/">Creative Loafing Tampa</a> </i>to help spread the word on how much fun we were having. A huge thank you to the great staff at Barnes & Noble for welcoming me aboard despite my very busy schedule and of course, to all of the customers that came to our events and had fun with us!!! </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjdvcaL1sxVV01NPhbd-0nO5kdXwKabmalM2mkC3sV3TKTaFuP2ClhqE1bfc6slo8_wZyD-cZoLgftikwCc0XdSNoiS1YxMFwV7uheZnx73WI5M5EH_mpX3e4hoZLnVosoIr910g/s1600/IMG_5482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjdvcaL1sxVV01NPhbd-0nO5kdXwKabmalM2mkC3sV3TKTaFuP2ClhqE1bfc6slo8_wZyD-cZoLgftikwCc0XdSNoiS1YxMFwV7uheZnx73WI5M5EH_mpX3e4hoZLnVosoIr910g/s320/IMG_5482.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">#tbt #ThrowbackThursday #GetPopCultured events<br />1950/Marilyn Monroe; 1960/Audrey Hepburn; <br />1970/My Mom's Leather Jumper<br />1980/Madonna; 1990/Hedwig Harry Potter</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxpDN2GeQtM0oAZOuvFDC-gvhD7IPUPaSPKlRUlWmsy7pNGKxA-nfzsSrbb9MDYyxefoWs-EurfOswJTBvKjZEXKdGFgH3XhqxGmJNfX9q1PbTNdfQJpbebq3U40pojI9SORxtQA/s1600/IMG_5491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxpDN2GeQtM0oAZOuvFDC-gvhD7IPUPaSPKlRUlWmsy7pNGKxA-nfzsSrbb9MDYyxefoWs-EurfOswJTBvKjZEXKdGFgH3XhqxGmJNfX9q1PbTNdfQJpbebq3U40pojI9SORxtQA/s320/IMG_5491.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Doctor Who; Magic Treehouse Dinosaurs After Dark;<br />Outlander; To Kill a Mockingbird; DC Comic Days/Batgirl;<br />Minions</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXDCiQZfNMpk5ZDe1Li-TfsscoczNViZ9U7VZVyTV5SAv95p9nMZkraLDvvLoC6V5A7_NIBtB3Ky-GvsjH32x9gU7aMhNzbAnFd5tE04wHx1pSwS3-dscxLmFw4OefBx6zVF3Fg/s1600/IMG_5493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXDCiQZfNMpk5ZDe1Li-TfsscoczNViZ9U7VZVyTV5SAv95p9nMZkraLDvvLoC6V5A7_NIBtB3Ky-GvsjH32x9gU7aMhNzbAnFd5tE04wHx1pSwS3-dscxLmFw4OefBx6zVF3Fg/s320/IMG_5493.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dr. Seuss! I made the dress, bow tie, bow headband, purse<br />and a hat honoring all of Seuss' characters but especially<br />the one and only The Cat in the Hat!</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here's the links to my articles for <i>Creative Loafing Tampa</i>:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">July 2nd, 2015: <a href="http://cltampa.com/artbreaker/archives/2015/07/02/get-pop-cultured-at-barnes-and-noble-this-month#.VcN7bGBhk7d">"Get Pop-Cultured at Barnes & Noble this month"</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">July 13th, 2015: <a href="http://cltampa.com/artbreaker/archives/2015/07/13/mockingbird-all-day-today-sequel-out-tomorrrow#.VcN8F2Bhk7d">"<i>Mockingbird</i> all day today, sequel out tomorrow"</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">August 6th, 2015: <a href="http://cltampa.com/artbreaker/archives/2015/08/06/a-ship-shape-celebration-of-dr-seuss-with-evan-longoria-in-tow#.VcPpO2Bhk7c">"A ship-shape celebration of Dr. Seuss with Evan Longoria in tow"</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>***For all of my photos from Get-Pop Cultured at Barnes & Noble, please like my FB page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/StandUpLibrarian">here</a>.</i></span></div>
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg76Q645Nod4auWNuzNY9ADgDNesnPs5SJyw-fIF4w77kYaMq6OUAmiqUZ7Pm4MgOSb5bu8_zF2CcNM_qfweuBDeNSnzP8XQcu6jqEgWoDF8YRtexFDJTAYLx4vEfXRb6sYqlMjWQ/s1600/IMG_3784.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg76Q645Nod4auWNuzNY9ADgDNesnPs5SJyw-fIF4w77kYaMq6OUAmiqUZ7Pm4MgOSb5bu8_zF2CcNM_qfweuBDeNSnzP8XQcu6jqEgWoDF8YRtexFDJTAYLx4vEfXRb6sYqlMjWQ/s320/IMG_3784.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">With the awesome staff at Barnes & Noble St. Petersburg<br />on the very 1st night of Get-Pop Cultured #tbt #1950</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0znBmprFYwWX336GeC7vBGxERlBtnpZhOX3Jod1JTbAM4WuZxAdyCI78CfXFO-WTOkrXfYVdpow3tNQqgsKk6LWFLLpyxm3AT3ZNOqvVR4e32qB0iH6RtYL1cA7StsnUeIMsSQ/s1600/IMG_5328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0znBmprFYwWX336GeC7vBGxERlBtnpZhOX3Jod1JTbAM4WuZxAdyCI78CfXFO-WTOkrXfYVdpow3tNQqgsKk6LWFLLpyxm3AT3ZNOqvVR4e32qB0iH6RtYL1cA7StsnUeIMsSQ/s320/IMG_5328.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our Seuss Spectacular on the very last night of Get-Pop Cultured<br />celebrating What Pet Should I Get & Dr. Seuss!</span></i></td></tr>
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Stand-Up Librarian Meredith Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13611393954053820223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21712213.post-75563429684839345122015-06-01T00:42:00.000-05:002015-06-01T00:42:02.554-05:00Happy 5th Anniversary StandUpLibrarian.com!<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>“</i><i>I look at all of the
things I have accomplished over the past four years as the Stand-Up Librarian
from performances and events to literary purses and parody songs, but the two things I wanted more than anything else was to be hired as a
librarian at a library and to finish writing my book!”</i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">–<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Me, <a href="http://www.standuplibrarian.com/2014/06/happy-4th-anniversary.html">last year on this exact date</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Me today:</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8WwAtxvPlebx-w_S0Zb00riceHOOLfppAIkGaVvAEmp_qbrZezOTDQPVsLBV_vLI_TZakiXZCjN51qgvs_a4xEeyy3V0a3JsYKIAEYPmKfik7UArrNFpeVDmn83z28BLRp69kcQ/s1600/MM+Library.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8WwAtxvPlebx-w_S0Zb00riceHOOLfppAIkGaVvAEmp_qbrZezOTDQPVsLBV_vLI_TZakiXZCjN51qgvs_a4xEeyy3V0a3JsYKIAEYPmKfik7UArrNFpeVDmn83z28BLRp69kcQ/s200/MM+Library.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Professional Librarian!</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpXSLctDLy4JPuL_p1bVG2wjH7FOVIXvUPvYHMjryRv-8Wi4E4LT8r4sxfyCai7ccrl0X77ikYDiwb9VwuThPL3JgisQuRLRXIbcnCCkVOwwzMV1Lohvj604wHBwO6Hb2qNgDjpw/s1600/IMG_5231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpXSLctDLy4JPuL_p1bVG2wjH7FOVIXvUPvYHMjryRv-8Wi4E4LT8r4sxfyCai7ccrl0X77ikYDiwb9VwuThPL3JgisQuRLRXIbcnCCkVOwwzMV1Lohvj604wHBwO6Hb2qNgDjpw/s200/IMG_5231.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Finished writing book!</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I should have also said “...and win the lottery” because
here I am one year later with both dreams accomplished and all it took was a
little patience.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Okay, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">a
lot</i> of patience!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Five years after graduating with my Masters
degree and I was finally hired and started working last week as a professional
librarian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the best part of all was
that I didn’t have to fill out a lengthy online application or submit a
resume.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just answered an email, took a
tour of the library, and said yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was that easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, and spend the last
five years busting my ass so I could be ready when the opportunity eventually presented
itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You see, I got the job not because
I was a librarian, but because I was also the Stand-Up
Librarian! Or just had cute bookmarks, I'm not exactly sure. Anyway, I was approached <a href="http://www.standuplibrarian.com/2014/04/thank-you-fl-antiquarian-book-fair.html">at an event</a>
over a year ago about this job & it turned out the guy was serious!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which makes me realize that wearing an outfit
made entirely out of books doesn’t make me look crazy at all, but in fact,
qualified!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But seriously, every single
experience from the start of this idea I had five years ago to working as an intern, volunteer, assistant and library page, has led me to
develop the skills that would prepare me for this very moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My job is to catalog the most beautiful
library I have ever seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thousands of
books, DVDs, and other materials, sit in boxes waiting to be cataloged, covered
in plastic covers, and shelved by call numbers, a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">ll without a staff! Huh? Wait a minute... Still, t</span>o help build such a library (and be employed), is a dream come true.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Well, one of them, anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other dream is to be a published author.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I am getting very close!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Last September, I finally finished writing a
book filled with all of my crazy stories since deciding to become a librarian
ten years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only now, thanks to my
new job, I finally have my ending!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I
edit the manuscript and target agents for representation and publishers for
publication, I really hope that perhaps next year, I can again be writing on
here that yet another dream has been realized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Having dreams is</span> what truly keeps me going.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But dreams are not enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is because of so many people over the past
five years that my dreams for <a href="http://www.standuplibrarian.com/">Stand-Up Librarian</a> are coming true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you so much to the <a href="http://www.standuplibrarian.com/p/blurbs.html">librarians and book lovers</a> who have hired me to perform my <a href="http://www.standuplibrarian.com/p/programs.html">literary comedy shows</a> at your libraries
and bookstores, and to host your events and fundraisers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks to the <a href="http://www.standuplibrarian.com/p/patrons.html">fabulous folks</a> who have
purchased my literary fashion accessories at my shows and my <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/MeredithMyersDesigns">Etsy shop</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you to the <a href="http://www.standuplibrarian.com/p/press.html">press people</a> who have shared
my story and promoted my shows and appearances, making me grateful that not
every media outlet wants to cover the Kardashians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks of course, to my awesome editors at <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://cltampa.com/tampa/Search?cx=002407891961455841536%3Azjgovamtd2o&cof=FORID%3A9&q=meredith+myers&sa=Search">Creative Loafing Tampa</a></i> for enabling me
to become a better writer as a result of my reporting on such awesome events as
the opening of <a href="http://www.standuplibrarian.com/2014/07/harry-potter-opening-of-diagon-alley.html">Universal Orlando’s The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – DiagonAlley</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Seriously, that was one incredible week of free butter beer!</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To my family and friends who have stuck by me
during the struggles and heartbreak of the early years by offering me places to
stay when on the road or needing a shoulder to cry on when it seemed so many
people just didn’t understand what I was trying to do – THANK YOU.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lastly, to the unemployed librarians who feel
lost, hopeless and want to quit…don’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve
got just the book for you if you can wait a little longer for me to get it to
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you can’t, start reading this
blog from <a href="http://www.standuplibrarian.com/2010/06/welcome-to-standuplibrariancom.html">the beginning</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My advice is
this: don’t doubt yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
adventures ahead of you are endless if you just stand-up and try.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBVJk3z2QncDdg0La1YC2hYOrO9-hNKpy3baoIbm5nfPfXmYf8ScYfVp2Gwnc-02C7OvCzMju09F1O9a5WACEa63kJdfKqQL8hXk2eU5P8SyVx4hYaGq80GngjyWlJVsEkx5AwPw/s1600/2014+MM+WebsiteImage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBVJk3z2QncDdg0La1YC2hYOrO9-hNKpy3baoIbm5nfPfXmYf8ScYfVp2Gwnc-02C7OvCzMju09F1O9a5WACEa63kJdfKqQL8hXk2eU5P8SyVx4hYaGq80GngjyWlJVsEkx5AwPw/s320/2014+MM+WebsiteImage.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Stand-Up Librarian Meredith Myers 2015<br />Professional Librarian. Comedian. Designer. Writer. Publicist.<br />Advocate.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Stand-Up Librarian Meredith Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13611393954053820223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21712213.post-69470322284505834442015-04-01T11:12:00.000-05:002015-04-01T11:12:41.598-05:00Just in time for April Fools' Day...the James Joyce Eye Patch!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><i>Available for a limited time only...like probably just for today...</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 25px;"><i>Introducing...</i></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">THE JAMES JOYCE EYE PATCH! </span></b></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZWR9ZTwM9-kwtKZb6ArX0onPSUZbU-pxP0yOCeQ2Lc9gQq6WkyYIrLGx0DgOCvfjAD1Boywu-0JyKXPu2URVEk0sUxewq69CTcxBFm3TtMpVDQUPNRIP4zyFC7XamWxIFhy2_g/s1600/Joyce+eye+patch+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZWR9ZTwM9-kwtKZb6ArX0onPSUZbU-pxP0yOCeQ2Lc9gQq6WkyYIrLGx0DgOCvfjAD1Boywu-0JyKXPu2URVEk0sUxewq69CTcxBFm3TtMpVDQUPNRIP4zyFC7XamWxIFhy2_g/s1600/Joyce+eye+patch+collage.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">The James Joyce eye patch.</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>Because if you are going to read 786 pages of Ulysses, </b></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>why not really challenge yourself and use just one eye! </b></i></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">100% cotton shamrock-print, fully-lined with coordinating green fabric. Dimensions approximately the size of a normal human eye. Perfect for any James Joyce fan, librarian or Irish pirate. *Print also available as bowtie and wristlet purse. Can do other custom eye patches pieces as well. To purchase, click</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><b><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/190615498/james-joyce-eye-patch?ref=shop_home_active_1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">here</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span></a></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For more information on James Joyce-inspired fashions & other literary accessories, visit Stand-Up Librarian Designs on Etsy by clicking <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/MeredithMyersDesigns"><b>here</b></a>. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrR8zLij_fJoWHWfDtvrWOsAqpOFXtLziLfbzWFcBAhg_Np9ca4Ck4gOqOQEXfBzLW-fDpRfJy-t6_cYRemgkjSGK4fsw-WYUTA8lyLNPPCVKCzI60TqHDFUZIKwbuXT0sTog0w/s1600/Meredith+Meyers+Wilsons+Books+06-17-2014-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrR8zLij_fJoWHWfDtvrWOsAqpOFXtLziLfbzWFcBAhg_Np9ca4Ck4gOqOQEXfBzLW-fDpRfJy-t6_cYRemgkjSGK4fsw-WYUTA8lyLNPPCVKCzI60TqHDFUZIKwbuXT0sTog0w/s1600/Meredith+Meyers+Wilsons+Books+06-17-2014-1.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Reading is never foolish but <br />Happy April Fools Day everyone!</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>Stand-Up Librarian Meredith Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13611393954053820223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21712213.post-19037482491713980052015-01-03T15:41:00.001-05:002015-01-03T15:41:04.471-05:00NCL in Hawaii<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmBWowBXupUkTPur75fxRFlCOZaPaP1bSI9ORntKWlO2xTGFmv0KA6OSoqXazCuc0sa86tU9_blDh1w7iqBmlFQm5uOUWybGr3V5YXe_D0bo8WAXL53F-6TI8tYpPArVgQbrUZhA/s640/blogger-image-434423231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmBWowBXupUkTPur75fxRFlCOZaPaP1bSI9ORntKWlO2xTGFmv0KA6OSoqXazCuc0sa86tU9_blDh1w7iqBmlFQm5uOUWybGr3V5YXe_D0bo8WAXL53F-6TI8tYpPArVgQbrUZhA/s640/blogger-image-434423231.jpg"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Happy New Year!!! I know, it has been over two months since I have written on here. I guess you can say my life has been in transition. I am working on a cruise ship. In Hawaii. Every single day!!!!. As a result, I have had little time to write an email, let alone sleep or post something on here. In committing to do this for five months, I've had to make some sacrifices & learn to live in just the moment I'm in (most of the time in a tiny cabin the size of one of my closets at home.). It has been challenging in ways I won't express right now but I am sure to have a ton of funny stories to share when this experience is over. Did I mention I am also in Hawaii? So yes, even when I am exhausted & lonely, wondering why I ever thought I could do this again after 10 years, something makes me realize I can. That I am strong enough. On Monday it was this sea turtle.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Mahalo, universe.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFKckRHGDcFBCOAHps1OOVLY5BQBauUhdIF6qOnWBi7mxaclG_4B8ChnVhLsxO5Nb_3Hz-LT45Tnc_uzkG5NalxCSoFZZ3aJ1ba4RGGmmNXBOXfgjYEXjnDL5mDAFYPhulVAG5Q/s640/blogger-image--277726934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFKckRHGDcFBCOAHps1OOVLY5BQBauUhdIF6qOnWBi7mxaclG_4B8ChnVhLsxO5Nb_3Hz-LT45Tnc_uzkG5NalxCSoFZZ3aJ1ba4RGGmmNXBOXfgjYEXjnDL5mDAFYPhulVAG5Q/s640/blogger-image--277726934.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOl8Gu_dtiA5iSeByNx4S5trMBP2arYVwnCdXFDWUZYW7sIF4wvh8St85sCLYQHK_YHtMMrNnECzv9IFbOHOU_vGlCu6_HH_WU5paD0iFggJ3Etkj4vH0iJ-iiEs0WrqzO7bCpXA/s640/blogger-image-2054923034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOl8Gu_dtiA5iSeByNx4S5trMBP2arYVwnCdXFDWUZYW7sIF4wvh8St85sCLYQHK_YHtMMrNnECzv9IFbOHOU_vGlCu6_HH_WU5paD0iFggJ3Etkj4vH0iJ-iiEs0WrqzO7bCpXA/s640/blogger-image-2054923034.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74m-3Fonz8r8EP4TIramyoPbdsAu2I17nwrT_65msMOk7Vpow369LRXCUUdDbVwam8EGptq61J9TFyacDbNkr-W1gzdInfg0IAJlhEpfYMV6O7KHp6bLJc3G6lL_CnzykGnvTaQ/s640/blogger-image-959589280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74m-3Fonz8r8EP4TIramyoPbdsAu2I17nwrT_65msMOk7Vpow369LRXCUUdDbVwam8EGptq61J9TFyacDbNkr-W1gzdInfg0IAJlhEpfYMV6O7KHp6bLJc3G6lL_CnzykGnvTaQ/s640/blogger-image-959589280.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>Meredith Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07008769783024686195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21712213.post-68382755977770476522014-10-23T07:12:00.004-05:002014-10-23T11:57:00.440-05:00Get Cursed at the Haunted Mansions of Central FL<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdPTGtqN4ISwiazYvnDhyphenhyphenmWdd25esqYTwvTxkk8s_9-o3OeVvWC3GIh-Z3ZFR37u3oMWEgvuN5L4b8iALU4Hqez0Mp0bX3b6rLRoi8tINaAwUlCFUJOHbruyv8XxkZE5cSvKzaw/s1600/CL+HorrorIssueCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdPTGtqN4ISwiazYvnDhyphenhyphenmWdd25esqYTwvTxkk8s_9-o3OeVvWC3GIh-Z3ZFR37u3oMWEgvuN5L4b8iALU4Hqez0Mp0bX3b6rLRoi8tINaAwUlCFUJOHbruyv8XxkZE5cSvKzaw/s1600/CL+HorrorIssueCover.jpg" height="320" width="293" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My first cover story for Creative Loafing Tampa!</span></i></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I love haunted houses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Maybe it’s because I
basically grew up at Walt Disney World’s <a href="https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/attractions/magic-kingdom/haunted-mansion/">The Haunted Mansion</a> attraction, where this year Disney is releasing
<a href="http://www.disneystore.com/the-haunted-mansion-collection/mn/1020302/">Haunted Mansion Authentic</a>, a large assortment of merchandise sold in a new
store at the Magic Kingdom, featuring everything from dinner plates, bookends,
and towels (sadly, no doom buggies), which means I can finally live in my own
version of it (ghosts not included.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ve also enjoyed visiting real haunted houses across the country with
my favorites being the famous <a href="http://www.winchestermysteryhouse.com/">Winchester Mystery House</a> in San Jose, <a href="http://whaleyhouse.org/">The Whaley House</a> in Old Town San Diego, <a href="http://www.jeromegrandhotel.com/">The Jerome Grand Hotel</a> in Arizona, and <a href="http://www.fairmont.com/banff-springs/?cmpid=google_bsh_search-brand_branded-e-revsh&gclid=CjwKEAjwzqKiBRCAydTZzOLi9CISJACm3irW26D8g24RGdAl8XsxUxTrhwK8ls9xwcSC1-RRrlvjtRoC8Zrw_wcB">The Banff Springs Hotel</a> in Alberta, Canada.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But what is it about
haunted houses that make some of us excited to be scared?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How is fear actually defined?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">According to Dr. Machiel
Kennedy, a licensed medical doctor and
longtime leader in wellness and healthy living, “The acronym for FEAR is False Evidence Appearing Real.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you are scared, you are turning on
a part of the midbrain (the location for emotions and memory) that is fight or
flight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It shoots adrenaline
through your body and you feel nervous, your heart begins to race, your pupils
dilate so you can focus, you have acute hearing, your stomach and GI track turn
off because you don’t need to be digesting, and finally your blood is sent to
your muscles so you can either run or fight.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He also says that people
like haunted houses because of the adrenaline rush they get, while knowing they
are in a safe environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And no,
you can’t die from being scared unless of course you already have a previous
medical condition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which was good
to know because I was about to visit <i>seventeen</i> different haunted houses in one week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">***Click <a href="http://cltampa.com/artbreaker/archives/2014/10/23/themed-screams-halloween-horror-nights-24-and-howl-o-scream#.VEkvVSiQvs4"><b>here</b></a> for more of my story about <a href="http://www.halloweenhorrornights.com/orlando/">HHN24</a> & <a href="http://seaworldparks.com/en/howloscream-tampa/">Howl-O-Scream</a> in <a href="http://cltampa.com/">Creative Loafing Tampa</a>.</span></i></div>
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<u><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Halloween Horror Nights 24 at Universal Orlando</span></b></u></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbzuxT-tAxhJqzASXTq0s6bbtCDkKel55ZIzsk3yhV4UoYlQkny50pGRXXpGJvH7-U_CmsdQYEA-KokQ6WpYVBf-Zd18trgIvNlEnSl1JaFCqYhB8hvb-kTSdrJEzl8NG1IhhGSg/s1600/MM+HHN24.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbzuxT-tAxhJqzASXTq0s6bbtCDkKel55ZIzsk3yhV4UoYlQkny50pGRXXpGJvH7-U_CmsdQYEA-KokQ6WpYVBf-Zd18trgIvNlEnSl1JaFCqYhB8hvb-kTSdrJEzl8NG1IhhGSg/s1600/MM+HHN24.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/6GShfJXO-iQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GShfJXO-iQ&list=UUhWMGR-Q5yFZmoFizJxewrA">Video</a> interview with HHN24 Creative Director Mike Aiello.</i></span></div>
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<u><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa:</span></b></u><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWDQOTnTQccY_9qlmUCFqv-GfO0TM44UcNJ0cMxA3cHgXV4vdIO4UuL98B4dwi7_eosKO6yqajVX1AgN-GMHDHk0-a4QshUQmiHdnd1tMm1sa0GjuwACgEcQ7glaTzaM1L_i4bw/s1600/IMG_5822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWDQOTnTQccY_9qlmUCFqv-GfO0TM44UcNJ0cMxA3cHgXV4vdIO4UuL98B4dwi7_eosKO6yqajVX1AgN-GMHDHk0-a4QshUQmiHdnd1tMm1sa0GjuwACgEcQ7glaTzaM1L_i4bw/s1600/IMG_5822.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU85QNk4tTwcj-Ys8ufxxUlz27-sZ47mXDpnYhwRgrTPMNLbXrXw1GTIkn5iwM2VXd0DeONo4ZwkeRE7mkuJdP87oR9BTlZc4ReY4PTV1WE8_31ECbtZmFODRwvnBT2E00J8y9_A/s1600/MM+HowlOScream.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU85QNk4tTwcj-Ys8ufxxUlz27-sZ47mXDpnYhwRgrTPMNLbXrXw1GTIkn5iwM2VXd0DeONo4ZwkeRE7mkuJdP87oR9BTlZc4ReY4PTV1WE8_31ECbtZmFODRwvnBT2E00J8y9_A/s1600/MM+HowlOScream.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JOvkui_fnHs/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/JOvkui_fnHs?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/v/JOvkui_fnHs?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOvkui_fnHs&list=UUhWMGR-Q5yFZmoFizJxewrA">Video</a> of </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Dead Fall haunted house at Howl-O-Scream.</i></span></div>
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<u><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></u></div>
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<u><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Radley House in St. Petersburg:</span></b></u></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Not to be overshadowed by
the theme parks, St. Petersburg native Cody Meacham is the brilliance behind
<a href="http://radleyhaunt.com/">Radley House</a>, a haunted house he started over eight years ago when he was still
a student at Northeast High School.
Cut to 2014, and Meacham’s haunt this year is <i>Dr. Radley’s
Nightmare Machine</i>, featuring a
captivating story about a sleep therapist desperately searching for the answers
to why nightmares happen, where visitors are invited to be patients. Throughout the ten intricately themed
scenes, patients can expect to encounter a creature and machine Dr. Radley
developed for therapy treatments, amid an original score, captivating special
effects, and handcrafted environments.
The Radley Haunted House is like no other Halloween experience in
Central Florida. It is also the
cheapest. A five-dollar donation
is encouraged.</span><br />
<br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">***Click <b><a href="http://cltampa.com/artbreaker/archives/2014/10/22/nightmare-on-19th-street-the-hauntrepreneurial-spirit-of-cody-meacham#.VEkvqyiQvs4">here</a></b> for my story on Cody Meacham in <a href="http://cltampa.com/">Creative Loafing Tampa</a>.</span></i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZWcS72avHVAzub3aaaZwdQeMXxYl58NdT94Yr_nBcxaeGrtjoYu-8Y9tjX_gAlbZsHVuu_AdHAmTa113chlslkYkcpinB5BPXQNz6KXJi-WIir0tfpy8QP7LyVCLOiL5SvH2KQ/s1600/IMG_5994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZWcS72avHVAzub3aaaZwdQeMXxYl58NdT94Yr_nBcxaeGrtjoYu-8Y9tjX_gAlbZsHVuu_AdHAmTa113chlslkYkcpinB5BPXQNz6KXJi-WIir0tfpy8QP7LyVCLOiL5SvH2KQ/s1600/IMG_5994.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">With Cody Meacham.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEfhZaZpPDl0-8EGlq73HYy1hZ1rkqJHgctBUg6zalv_ythnHUGSAg4JXwleIl_4ea8jm0W7ZuhrVSn5cNEAisweYf7qQkxnF82yQFZNilMmez9pj0rnw3r003phfcL9RQA6Bh6A/s1600/MM+Radley+House.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEfhZaZpPDl0-8EGlq73HYy1hZ1rkqJHgctBUg6zalv_ythnHUGSAg4JXwleIl_4ea8jm0W7ZuhrVSn5cNEAisweYf7qQkxnF82yQFZNilMmez9pj0rnw3r003phfcL9RQA6Bh6A/s1600/MM+Radley+House.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">With the Creative Team at The Radley House.</span></i></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><u><i>If You Dare To Go:</i></u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Halloween Horror Nights
24 at Universal Orlando runs on select nights thru Nov 1<sup>st</sup>, starting
at 6:30 p.m. ($95.99, discounts available for Florida residents and annual pass
holders, add-ons include front-of-the-line access or Frequent Fear Pass). For
more information, visit: <a href="http://www.halloweenhorrornights.com/orlando/">www.halloweenhorrornights.com/orlando/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Howl-O-Scream at Busch
Gardens Tampa runs Thurs – Sat nights thru Nov 1<sup>st</sup>, 7:30 p.m. to 1
a.m. ($89, discounts available for annual pass holders and at Publix & AAA
locations, add-ons include front-of-the-line fear passes, VIP tours, Fright
Feast.) For more information, visit: <a href="http://www.HowlOScream.com/">www.HowlOScream.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Radley House runs Thurs
– Sun nights thru Nov 2<sup>nd</sup>, 7:30 – 11 p.m. ($5 donation), 3900 19<sup>th</sup>
Street North, St. Petersburg. For more information, visit: <a href="http://www.RadleyHaunt.com/">www.RadleyHaunt.com</a></span><b style="font-family: Tahoma; font-style: italic; text-decoration: underline;"><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Stand-Up Librarian Meredith Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13611393954053820223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21712213.post-75963873573342291252014-09-04T22:02:00.001-05:002014-09-04T22:02:13.521-05:00RIP Joan Rivers - Honorary LibrarianSo sad to hear of Joan Rivers passing. Here is my tribute at <a href="http://cltampa.com/artbreaker/archives/2014/09/04/joan-rivers-honorary-librarian">Creative Loafing Tampa</a>.<br />
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R.I.P. Joan.</div>
Stand-Up Librarian Meredith Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13611393954053820223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21712213.post-37673257120365941082014-09-03T09:49:00.001-05:002014-09-03T09:49:41.191-05:00Book Finished, Flapping My Wings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqBNFdUNN9zbZ019GspKK0N93JseKC9APfDkOeYpWYsKXoovZz3CMZseFIJvb7afqBVynNfTFP8dwrjVUbByIrsiaiTuCceZm0qVNs3CO7liYxbb2ZxaZTzYOljiozo4IwwGQvA/s1600/IMG_5230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqBNFdUNN9zbZ019GspKK0N93JseKC9APfDkOeYpWYsKXoovZz3CMZseFIJvb7afqBVynNfTFP8dwrjVUbByIrsiaiTuCceZm0qVNs3CO7liYxbb2ZxaZTzYOljiozo4IwwGQvA/s1600/IMG_5230.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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I did it. I finally wrote my book! After 8 years of talking about it, I wrote the whole thing in just 7 weeks. This is not bragging, but an example of focus, discipline, and following through. Three things I struggle with daily. Like a lot of people, I always try to do too much and as a result, I rarely move forward on any of them. It took quitting a job, turning down several other opportunities, and isolating myself from the world to finally do it. </div>
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It wasn't easy at first. The voices in my head would say, <i>Nobody cares about this. You are wasting your time. Leave this stuff in the past. </i>The eight storage crates full of reminders of the many places I have been and numerous times I failed or faced challenges that tested my strength and determination. I would open journals and read my thoughts from 2008, knowing how naive I was, or in the case of 2011, how sad and scared I was when nothing seemed to go right no matter how hard I tried. But regardless of what time I was reliving, I would force myself to put on the same blue sweatpants and t-shirt that said 'Dream more, complain less' and sit in my desk chair in front of my computer with a cup of coffee by 7 a.m. and write. Most of the time till 5 p.m. or if I was on a roll, till 8 p.m. Every single day. This time, I would see it through. No matter what. </div>
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And I did it. Thanks to determination and the birds outside my window. </div>
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The birds. The parents had built a nest in a bush outside my window and the babies were born in the first week I started writing. I would take breaks to sit outside and watch the parents go back and forth feeding them bugs and worms. Then the babies realized it was time to leave the nest and flew off. I would watch one bird struggle, unable to fly so easily like his brother and sister. He made it out of the nest, but now would sit on a low branch and chirp loudly for his mom to come feed him. For weeks. Until one day I saw him hop off the branch, flap his wings, and hop across the street. There he would grow lean and strong. One day he was gone. The following week I heard his chirp and ran across the street and he was at the highest point of the tallest tree. He had finally done it. It had taken him a while, maybe longer than everybody else, but in his own time, he had found the strength. After just a few moments for me to get a photo, he spread his wings and flew away from me forever.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsft8IBDwNm8p4YWxi09Xno_1bL3rK5XzQpzL0_ae8bbsdcIyrTCos2ahziMg2Ec12a7HRL9k5pu8EqfPl6F98CE5a8vb9QdANhcPFdh6C7Yi9OKWth6ANWcRDtJzJOpmVmG0AhQ/s1600/IMG_4887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsft8IBDwNm8p4YWxi09Xno_1bL3rK5XzQpzL0_ae8bbsdcIyrTCos2ahziMg2Ec12a7HRL9k5pu8EqfPl6F98CE5a8vb9QdANhcPFdh6C7Yi9OKWth6ANWcRDtJzJOpmVmG0AhQ/s1600/IMG_4887.JPG" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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We are all capable of anything as long as we are patient with ourselves. Not everybody can get out of that nest on the first try. Like that bird, it has taken me a long time to finally be ready to write this book. I've struggled for years writing a few stories here and there, but not really wanting to dig deep or do the real work that was necessary. In choosing to stay on that low branch, I was safe. Technically, I was out of the nest so nobody could judge me or reject me, but I was also holding myself back from truly soaring.</div>
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My dream was never to be a comedian or a librarian. It was to be a "Solid Gold" dancer. And when that show was canceled, I focused on being a writer instead. Writing for the school paper, yearbook, skits, plays, and later press releases, jokes and parody songs. But the one thing I wanted more than anything was to be an author. I wrote a book in 2004 and that completed manuscript sits next to me unpublished. I gave up when a few people didn't want it. I would sit on that low branch for the next 10 years until 7 weeks ago, I decided to hop off of it.</div>
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Of course, there is still a lot of work ahead, including revising the 537 pages down to 300, finding an agent again, then a publisher, and whatever comes after that. But thanks to my little bird, I know that tall tree is absolutely within my reach as long as I continue to flap my wings and try. </div>
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Stand-Up Librarian Meredith Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13611393954053820223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21712213.post-284571677143411872014-07-19T08:44:00.000-05:002014-07-19T08:44:31.170-05:00My Summer of WritingI hope everybody is having a wonderful summer! <br />
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I have been sitting at my desk as I take some time to finally finish writing my memoir. While I love performing, planning literary events, and sewing new products for <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/MeredithMyersDesigns">Stand-Up Librarian Designs</a>, it is completing this book that has been at the top of my To Do List for most of the past last three years. Thanks to solitude - and this incredibly hot weather that nobody in their right mind would want to be in - I am making writing a priority this summer.<br />
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While I take this time away from here, my social media accounts, (and even my friends and family), I encourage you to do the same. There is something about summer that allows us to slow down a bit to look back at what we have accomplished, where we went wrong, how we tried to make it right, and where we want to go from here. I am so grateful that each time I relive a painful moment in my past through my writing, I get to remind myself that I made it through okay (not to mention laugh at all of those times when I thought something was important when in fact it really wasn't.)<br />
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Thanks to everybody who has made my life interesting and exciting - especially the ones who were idiots (and yes, I include myself in that group.) Being perfect does not make interesting reading, but being a complete jackass? <i>Absolutely.</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0DKJ0E1gWYn34zY5-zG2oYuFU8q_FxhCTVmDJMM2fcpjwyPsb1NNoU5rasXwIQf8xObzB7QZ_J0m0SjPrD_1JXHZm5vAYU8HjMdlowhZchbisirEGa_L2suZbXL_p-5_uSftGqg/s1600/IMG_4564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0DKJ0E1gWYn34zY5-zG2oYuFU8q_FxhCTVmDJMM2fcpjwyPsb1NNoU5rasXwIQf8xObzB7QZ_J0m0SjPrD_1JXHZm5vAYU8HjMdlowhZchbisirEGa_L2suZbXL_p-5_uSftGqg/s1600/IMG_4564.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Stand-Up Librarian Meredith Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13611393954053820223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21712213.post-47952309776862469492014-07-03T08:52:00.003-05:002014-07-03T18:15:17.425-05:00Harry Potter & the Opening of Diagon Alley<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My birthday is not until October but it obviously came early this year when I was invited to attend the Media Preview Week of <a href="https://www.universalorlando.com/Theme-Parks/Wizarding-World-Of-Harry-Potter.aspx"><b>The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley</b></a> and cover it for <a href="http://cltampa.com/"><b>Creative Loafing Tampa</b></a>. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As a huge Harry Potter fan, I had a hard time taking it all in at times - the attention to detail was just so amazing on so many levels! But as a journalist, I tried my best to cover it as a professional...at least until Neville HOTbottom came down the red carpet. Have you seen that dude lately? Wow. Thanks also to Getty Images for including me in their <b><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/meredith-myers-attends-the-wizarding-world-of-harry-potter-news-photo/450838100">red carpet photos</a> - </b>I felt like an honorary Weasley! Below are the links to my stories, photos, and videos. The park opens July 8th so c</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">heck it out, muggles! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><u>CREATIVE LOAFING TAMPA:</u></b></span></i></span></div>
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<a href="http://cltampa.com/artbreaker/archives/2014/06/17/one-overjoyed-muggle-look-who-scored-diagon-alley-media-preview#.U7VXXSiQvs5"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"One overjoyed muggle - look who's going to the Diagon Alley media preview!"</span></b></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">June 17, 2014</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenzc6o6p4jJeR2fHxEWW73AdFRQFqd2ZfBPWIuBbQQ05tv3r47eo6Ot7JZPKrRvItDFZErqn6Mp1BEVBszLbhyphenhyphenNHPzw5xQOntLx6ucH7NHWwY8OdFfC-eVguGFxT81sTaM1CCUw/s1600/WWoHP+-+Diagon+Alley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenzc6o6p4jJeR2fHxEWW73AdFRQFqd2ZfBPWIuBbQQ05tv3r47eo6Ot7JZPKrRvItDFZErqn6Mp1BEVBszLbhyphenhyphenNHPzw5xQOntLx6ucH7NHWwY8OdFfC-eVguGFxT81sTaM1CCUw/s1600/WWoHP+-+Diagon+Alley.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://cltampa.com/artbreaker/archives/2014/07/02/up-her-alley-popping-in-on-the-wizarding-world-of-harry-potters-newest-attraction-w-videos-and-photos#.U7VYACiQvs4"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Up her alley - The Wizarding World of Harry Potter's newest attraction"</span></b></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">July 3, 2014</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdvLSW4bsiesZM0BVVCVLPQmKcah_3eyhAHPa9SpUEnPzYVEk91psBorZ_pUKWvUg7Kt2J3hhWK-3PAziXWEs2AuRuYan22428K7Ksc4r8SNTRS9jOuiV9rVHfyg22j4McOX7wug/s1600/IMG_4426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdvLSW4bsiesZM0BVVCVLPQmKcah_3eyhAHPa9SpUEnPzYVEk91psBorZ_pUKWvUg7Kt2J3hhWK-3PAziXWEs2AuRuYan22428K7Ksc4r8SNTRS9jOuiV9rVHfyg22j4McOX7wug/s1600/IMG_4426.JPG" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i><u>DIAGON ALLEY VIDEOS (Click the title for link):</u></i></b></span></div>
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<b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G97FZU8WvF4&list=UUhWMGR-Q5yFZmoFizJxewrA"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">DIAGON ALLEY RED CARPET</span></a></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/G97FZU8WvF4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njZeJZL16Bs&list=UUhWMGR-Q5yFZmoFizJxewrA">DIAGON ALLEY TOUR</a></b></span></div>
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<b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8lOwKCGprk&list=UUhWMGR-Q5yFZmoFizJxewrA"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">RIDING THE HOGWARTS EXPRESS</span></a></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flF282iy2Jg&list=UUhWMGR-Q5yFZmoFizJxewrA"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>DIAGON ALLEY FOOD & BEVERAGE TOUR</b></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i><u>PHOTOS:</u></i></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>***For photos, follow me on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/StandUpLibrarian">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/standuplibrarian">Instagram</a>.</i></span></div>
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Stand-Up Librarian Meredith Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13611393954053820223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21712213.post-61283030386375661952014-06-30T09:04:00.003-05:002014-06-30T09:04:40.951-05:00Bloomsday-BYOBook Event a Success!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix6cVDP9Fl7td3nXJGdxFHmoRJMMj4BSF1sGEb3r6XR9F3UjtfW9tyUmfF0VsG-hoJhrdivpZzx6PwgA9lgRUlNSZMRXAoDUj3qbIsxt81k6BL10gQdEu3EqvomD7C6gadKPN-3g/s1600/Meredith+Meyers+Wilsons+Books+06-17-2014-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix6cVDP9Fl7td3nXJGdxFHmoRJMMj4BSF1sGEb3r6XR9F3UjtfW9tyUmfF0VsG-hoJhrdivpZzx6PwgA9lgRUlNSZMRXAoDUj3qbIsxt81k6BL10gQdEu3EqvomD7C6gadKPN-3g/s1600/Meredith+Meyers+Wilsons+Books+06-17-2014-8.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Bloomsday St. Petersburg - we did it!</i></td></tr>
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Two weeks ago was our <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">BLOOMSDAY - BYOBook</span></b> <a href="http://www.standuplibrarian.com/2014/05/bloomsday-byobook-event-june-16.html">event</a> at <a href="http://www.wilsonsbookworld.com/">Wilson's Book World</a> and we had a great turnout to celebrate <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">James Joyce</span> and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><i>Ulysses</i>.</span> I want to thank Jeff Morris at Wilson's Book World and Tiffany Razzano from Wordier Than Thou for partnering with me on this event and helping me promote it. A huge thanks to our sponsor <a href="http://www.jjtaylor.com/">J.J. Taylor</a> and <a href="http://www.guinness.com/en-us/">Guinness</a> for providing refreshments for everyone. I also want to thank <a href="http://www.chuckvosburgh.com/">Chuck Vosburgh</a> for the photos, Joe Deal for filming the event, and my brother Randy Myers for assisting with everything else.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8wpoJWGaH0F3txVCcLVOyhguzXIRaeLsYJgb8j3wViuYTv1WlbL9Z61fBi120etVe5EL1sFs2wyv0q5MTLJQ6LblRIpzjFLr-cCNiViAILLCtLtnLQqPERLIkJXrthDZ2LVqmyA/s1600/Meredith+Meyers+Wilsons+Books+06-17-2014-47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8wpoJWGaH0F3txVCcLVOyhguzXIRaeLsYJgb8j3wViuYTv1WlbL9Z61fBi120etVe5EL1sFs2wyv0q5MTLJQ6LblRIpzjFLr-cCNiViAILLCtLtnLQqPERLIkJXrthDZ2LVqmyA/s1600/Meredith+Meyers+Wilsons+Books+06-17-2014-47.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>With Wilson's owner and <br />my co-host Jeff Morris.</i></td></tr>
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I've planned many events over the years, but this was one was probably one of the hardest due to my juggling so many aspects of it. In addition to reading all 786 pages of <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Ulysses</span></i> in just three weeks (and tweeting about it daily), I also divided up the 18 episodes into five minute sections and assembled a list of 18 readers, several who dropped out at the last minute due to illness and had to be replaced. Let me tell you something, getting people to read from <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Ulysses</span></i> is not easy! Finding 18 was near impossible.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7YeBxKX5TYFPP3D4QGrOajMqZdbox2dsrMaqThMgsSdQwYhEXSylUKNn9oldgh3tipswt8ApC3eXYLiVjE_u2nlH3-igJRzzpxigsSJrxJgNuN1UM-P6m9UNPGwW79qoeIZT77g/s1600/Meredith+Meyers+Wilsons+Books+06-17-2014-76.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7YeBxKX5TYFPP3D4QGrOajMqZdbox2dsrMaqThMgsSdQwYhEXSylUKNn9oldgh3tipswt8ApC3eXYLiVjE_u2nlH3-igJRzzpxigsSJrxJgNuN1UM-P6m9UNPGwW79qoeIZT77g/s1600/Meredith+Meyers+Wilsons+Books+06-17-2014-76.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>John Fleming kicks off the <br />readings with Episode One.</i></td></tr>
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It was an event I had been wanting to do for a while and it was nice to finally do it surrounded by so many of my friends. My favorite part of the event was probably our <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">"Best Molly Bloom"</span> contest where the winner received a bottle of burgundy wine and a block of Gorgonzola cheese (in honor of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Leopold Bloom</span>!) The women (and man) who competed offered up a variety of hilarious readings that made the judging that much harder on John Fleming (former performing arts critic for the <i>Tampa Bay Times</i> and my special guest reader.)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDUsUgywHTcFv-i3Yfy84NqCQwFQNQybi0vJXERtBB4ffHfl21LfUa8xepleeas7Ro2bypGXRylb_ib2mJZpIyJjHjVrcFbUJXrx1Bbjw0MLR9m77pSBkIn2O2CZI2dmNZiLB9wA/s1600/Meredith+Meyers+Wilsons+Books+06-17-2014-166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDUsUgywHTcFv-i3Yfy84NqCQwFQNQybi0vJXERtBB4ffHfl21LfUa8xepleeas7Ro2bypGXRylb_ib2mJZpIyJjHjVrcFbUJXrx1Bbjw0MLR9m77pSBkIn2O2CZI2dmNZiLB9wA/s1600/Meredith+Meyers+Wilsons+Books+06-17-2014-166.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"Best Molly Bloom" contestants</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dGdkE1G_sffMJbTYq5p82aT6k5WK0PMW7tQMoUvgphbrF_2LhzT7tAYKH9cyeFdhSrediDkD5J2zfx8IgQNB5NZ1XAy4Sg3q9CZv0XRpJF1NNPsfCUTlc-vECLJ09lDvbu9fIQ/s1600/Meredith+Meyers+Wilsons+Books+06-17-2014-167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dGdkE1G_sffMJbTYq5p82aT6k5WK0PMW7tQMoUvgphbrF_2LhzT7tAYKH9cyeFdhSrediDkD5J2zfx8IgQNB5NZ1XAy4Sg3q9CZv0XRpJF1NNPsfCUTlc-vECLJ09lDvbu9fIQ/s1600/Meredith+Meyers+Wilsons+Books+06-17-2014-167.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Our winner was Jude!</i></td></tr>
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I've edited a <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QVU5YL2F60&list=UUhWMGR-Q5yFZmoFizJxewrA">video</a> </span></b>with some of the highlights, which was almost as hard as planning the event as there was over two hours of footage! Plus there were so many fun moments to share but I couldn't possibly include them all. Thanks again to everybody that participated or attended the event, and who knows, maybe we will do it again next year!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiW_wl5uNku8zJWdeFOzsUmdk_DIJSS8A0aVq-Ywh4zCIXfNyiUdmsNQ5f0nbc2brm2YjMR5PiILmOkKHv3eN-UMEIOAhdO1Usc-GZwO_8dSHUK_FpaC_avwTpkCvwSfUcd-2Jcw/s1600/IMG_3345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiW_wl5uNku8zJWdeFOzsUmdk_DIJSS8A0aVq-Ywh4zCIXfNyiUdmsNQ5f0nbc2brm2YjMR5PiILmOkKHv3eN-UMEIOAhdO1Usc-GZwO_8dSHUK_FpaC_avwTpkCvwSfUcd-2Jcw/s1600/IMG_3345.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I had every library copy of <br />Ulysses in Pinellas County.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5OGClinEhShErwlFgPFOu9nSPbIhEKEKX6Eb6WS7ZowK0Nn-RintLupin1YyvwQOrKWbecylRypzjTUjJy9fg88ihPYF-HY7nAC4t8FLfBUWIJ_MMJXdjO0S1ZyK3Aq5gpGCG2A/s1600/IMG_3374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5OGClinEhShErwlFgPFOu9nSPbIhEKEKX6Eb6WS7ZowK0Nn-RintLupin1YyvwQOrKWbecylRypzjTUjJy9fg88ihPYF-HY7nAC4t8FLfBUWIJ_MMJXdjO0S1ZyK3Aq5gpGCG2A/s1600/IMG_3374.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Guests enjoying cans of Guinness.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMktYEYAohPV2EX1gIkqLY6H7D6WybOz_udDe6U8uy3-VTpjpb9-uvWz30uwq-kVL2Bl_3NjU2w6OB1ScYsL2Cj_DDUq5lm88dYscBzHBRxoDYcKySB13uOfuNBMsjr7qgmhopDw/s1600/Meredith+Meyers+Wilsons+Books+06-17-2014-66.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMktYEYAohPV2EX1gIkqLY6H7D6WybOz_udDe6U8uy3-VTpjpb9-uvWz30uwq-kVL2Bl_3NjU2w6OB1ScYsL2Cj_DDUq5lm88dYscBzHBRxoDYcKySB13uOfuNBMsjr7qgmhopDw/s1600/Meredith+Meyers+Wilsons+Books+06-17-2014-66.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Explaining the purpose of Bloomsday.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJVuxxUvDQb2n_0qAVTj-XSXP7zrlNdJQL5FeavY9YfMw8R1O5MevAt-yAacjq7aYnIMFbd_6WILFln0ZCMUNsXx-MOAgvzjLJJ2tYjtKHwQv37fkSMKyv0o3XyHBWgfnJPD73Uw/s1600/Meredith+Meyers+Wilsons+Books+06-17-2014-102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJVuxxUvDQb2n_0qAVTj-XSXP7zrlNdJQL5FeavY9YfMw8R1O5MevAt-yAacjq7aYnIMFbd_6WILFln0ZCMUNsXx-MOAgvzjLJJ2tYjtKHwQv37fkSMKyv0o3XyHBWgfnJPD73Uw/s1600/Meredith+Meyers+Wilsons+Books+06-17-2014-102.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Stan Myers introduces us<br />to Leopold Bloom.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGav2wFkF4YSj2g7WrbVqck9xPdumyxIdqW-N8NoVKouNvdbxTQn0_WHqpf6XRcj_zRNku6E-oqDohSq3uQu9V7cfv6W1hF2gjYwgfBz-Shbama7MRNjJqbn3mJtU_1Z1fipWSA/s1600/Meredith+Meyers+Wilsons+Books+06-17-2014-128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGav2wFkF4YSj2g7WrbVqck9xPdumyxIdqW-N8NoVKouNvdbxTQn0_WHqpf6XRcj_zRNku6E-oqDohSq3uQu9V7cfv6W1hF2gjYwgfBz-Shbama7MRNjJqbn3mJtU_1Z1fipWSA/s1600/Meredith+Meyers+Wilsons+Books+06-17-2014-128.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Richard Dipietra reads<br />Episode Nine. </i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifoTR7PJTdvNIXL9IHlorFeDjxKoq8ooeVzc3ZaisYC9yo-OKtjscnM83h2LbKe6gG4jPViBVbV3x1U-9QXa32btOn7_PklFcfYk_2BRWlkqa2gQHQgcdnXZjOYhdYHaLLENMq0Q/s1600/Meredith+Meyers+Wilsons+Books+06-17-2014-145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifoTR7PJTdvNIXL9IHlorFeDjxKoq8ooeVzc3ZaisYC9yo-OKtjscnM83h2LbKe6gG4jPViBVbV3x1U-9QXa32btOn7_PklFcfYk_2BRWlkqa2gQHQgcdnXZjOYhdYHaLLENMq0Q/s1600/Meredith+Meyers+Wilsons+Books+06-17-2014-145.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Corinne Broskette & Davina Reid<br />act out Episode 15.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzl_ofQGd5HCnz11HlefAuwPKGWj-tsSWjjlZcm_iGAFmW9s8DN1KkBd1UE4PgDQUfbs2YMl5PbsY8C81UVXaB8-fXkRr6Ts0U5FpiHgoqsfceM0gcKtYpa-5jz8LnsOqM06r2Qg/s1600/Meredith+Meyers+Wilsons+Books+06-17-2014-130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzl_ofQGd5HCnz11HlefAuwPKGWj-tsSWjjlZcm_iGAFmW9s8DN1KkBd1UE4PgDQUfbs2YMl5PbsY8C81UVXaB8-fXkRr6Ts0U5FpiHgoqsfceM0gcKtYpa-5jz8LnsOqM06r2Qg/s1600/Meredith+Meyers+Wilsons+Books+06-17-2014-130.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Jeff Morris whipping out his<br />Finnegans Wake.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZL28KJX_s8wRyBIFRJSm68dd_b-lDDn5IuJK4H3nPPPaptHxSKHA86VTdjoM3lTyqdWmzLm1X_zKvEssak7dbl2z4Qds3oCazomYgwpcehoOeO9CaZmJdNo5amdbyFtypSeDcw/s1600/Meredith+Meyers+Wilsons+Books+06-17-2014-186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZL28KJX_s8wRyBIFRJSm68dd_b-lDDn5IuJK4H3nPPPaptHxSKHA86VTdjoM3lTyqdWmzLm1X_zKvEssak7dbl2z4Qds3oCazomYgwpcehoOeO9CaZmJdNo5amdbyFtypSeDcw/s1600/Meredith+Meyers+Wilsons+Books+06-17-2014-186.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>And of course, me performing <br />"JOYCE Around"</i></td></tr>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thanks to my fabulous readers that included: John Fleming, Mary Ellen Dipietra, Paul Wilborn, Jude (from the audience), Stan Myers, Allan Smith, Eddie Nunez, Meredith Myers, Christine Page, Richard Dipietra, Jeff Morris, Justin Grant, Cole Bellamy, Lynn Waddell, Davina Reid, Corinne Broskette, Chuck Vosburgh and Pat Vosburgh.</span></i><br />
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For more photos, please visit my FB page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/StandUpLibrarian"><b>here</b></a>.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/8QVU5YL2F60?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">For a direct link to the Bloomsday video, click <b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QVU5YL2F60&list=UUhWMGR-Q5yFZmoFizJxewrA">here</a>.</b></span></i></div>
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<i>"I came to get down. I came to get down. So get out your books and JOYCE Around..."</i></div>
Stand-Up Librarian Meredith Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13611393954053820223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21712213.post-32574223390659928312014-06-17T09:34:00.001-05:002014-06-17T15:42:12.771-05:00Diagon AlleyTwo words.<br />
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Diagon Alley.</div>
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Harry Potter.</div>
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Wizarding World.</div>
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Universal Orlando.</div>
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Media Preview.</div>
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Butterbeer.</div>
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<b>I'M GOING!!!!!</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexcZwnRBWEZNyHRP9P8yQzwwlF231ZePcZoCiEHSHnIEK52cXNuu5LBe6yAXk2J1sJTMGgWMEUPKEDsfoTD7G-YoWD86TQ1N3Rtw59PPTVvpiQ3NkHuL-GvXqnPuTrzSTPvfqGw/s1600/IMG_3382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexcZwnRBWEZNyHRP9P8yQzwwlF231ZePcZoCiEHSHnIEK52cXNuu5LBe6yAXk2J1sJTMGgWMEUPKEDsfoTD7G-YoWD86TQ1N3Rtw59PPTVvpiQ3NkHuL-GvXqnPuTrzSTPvfqGw/s1600/IMG_3382.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Harry Potter section of my home library.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi996Bhft2evUNHhPKKQF-YkxtEC5ylwGYQ1dausB-YFSAvIEZ1h5YWhNWh61TnAtPNUkj7JHAJLkUy9wRVYemP8hJ4M6KwFSFKrowdTkwCTAdqwofruPB-lzL3SaEZ8tYVgP9Tyw/s1600/HarryPotterButterbeer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi996Bhft2evUNHhPKKQF-YkxtEC5ylwGYQ1dausB-YFSAvIEZ1h5YWhNWh61TnAtPNUkj7JHAJLkUy9wRVYemP8hJ4M6KwFSFKrowdTkwCTAdqwofruPB-lzL3SaEZ8tYVgP9Tyw/s1600/HarryPotterButterbeer.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Two fisting butterbeer & pumpkin juice in Hogsmeade<br />February 14, 2014.</i></td></tr>
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Check out my piece in<b> <a href="http://cltampa.com/artbreaker/archives/2014/06/17/one-overjoyed-muggle-look-who-scored-diagon-alley-media-preview#.U6CjXyiQvs4">Creative Loafing Tampa</a></b> about being invited to attend Universal Orlando Resort Diagon Alley Media Preview this week! </div>
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Follow me on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/StandUpLibrarian"><b>Facebook</b></a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/StandUpLibraryN"><b>Twitter</b></a> & <b><a href="http://instagram.com/standuplibrarian">Instagram</a> </b>to join me...</div>
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Stand-Up Librarian Meredith Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13611393954053820223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21712213.post-10947571459234880222014-06-15T16:19:00.003-05:002014-06-15T16:19:53.013-05:00Creative Loafing TampaRight when I think I am going to take a break, I am busier than ever! So happy to share that my very first articles as a contributing writer for <b><i><a href="http://cltampa.com/">Creative Loafing Tampa</a></i> </b>appeared this week. Thanks to my Editor In Chief David Warner and A&E Editor Julie Garisto for their support, and for giving me this wonderful opportunity to work as a writer!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgroFFqac-o3RqSBTs0nG3ai1cjgHTYo4GZ-vKgq8di37Vq8d_DP1MCIA5cE9rX7GVsMcXmGo-sRIPjFvOcZqU7ZEJHboDnH64aj_Ejri-umauyhqgEF9SvTkd1SLda_9xztCxDIg/s1600/IMG_3227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgroFFqac-o3RqSBTs0nG3ai1cjgHTYo4GZ-vKgq8di37Vq8d_DP1MCIA5cE9rX7GVsMcXmGo-sRIPjFvOcZqU7ZEJHboDnH64aj_Ejri-umauyhqgEF9SvTkd1SLda_9xztCxDIg/s1600/IMG_3227.JPG" height="320" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><i>I've been wearing this exact art on my belt buckle for three years!<br /></i></td></tr>
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First, was a literary food story I wrote for CL's Food Issue June 12 - 18 called <a href="http://cltampa.com/artbreaker/archives/2014/06/12/read-eat-ask-for-seconds-a-tour-of-eats-and-drinks-in-popular-books#.U54CYCiQvs4"><b>Read, eat, ask for seconds</b></a> where I discussed my love for butterbeer from J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, cheese sandwiches & burgundy wine from James Joyce's <i>Ulysses</i>, high tea from Lewis Carroll's <i>Alice in Wonderland,</i> apple pie from Jack Kerouac's <i>On the Road</i>, and yucatan shrimp from Randy Wayne White's Doc Ford novels and his restaurant down in Sanibel Island. I also referenced Charles Dickens' <i>Oliver Twist</i> and <i>A Christmas Carol</i>, Herman Melville's <i>Moby Dick</i>, and <i>The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe</i> by C.S. Lewis.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGkLhN6uAEWC-Y_fe4C21-Y8XfB5wFwkFYMMXi0O8KP_EOHl4ajNBFJ-gTXjQ543susFNO9qU4t4qDxj46YoDRf2zwUhLQSYILVjhlDQNEcQQ9kkOJK5LnDNcsxByLyxnjt20gAg/s1600/MM+CL+ReadEat+Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGkLhN6uAEWC-Y_fe4C21-Y8XfB5wFwkFYMMXi0O8KP_EOHl4ajNBFJ-gTXjQ543susFNO9qU4t4qDxj46YoDRf2zwUhLQSYILVjhlDQNEcQQ9kkOJK5LnDNcsxByLyxnjt20gAg/s1600/MM+CL+ReadEat+Photo.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Here's all of the books used in the story.</i></td></tr>
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The second and third pieces were in connection with my James Joyce Bloomsday event on June 16th at Wilson's Book World. I had been reading <i>Ulysses</i> and tweeting about it with a variety of other James Joyce fans on <a href="https://twitter.com/StandUpLibraryN"><b>Twitter</b></a>, and it made sense for me to just write the stories. The first was a simple 'Do This' promoting the event, and the second was on online piece basically consisting of a funny interview and discussion with Jeff Morris, owner of <a href="http://www.wilsonsbookworld.com/">Wilson's Book World</a> (and my co-host for the event) called <a href="http://cltampa.com/artbreaker/archives/2014/06/13/speaking-of-bloomsday-an-informal-chat-about-james-joyce-w-video#.U54G5SiQvs4"><b>Speaking of Bloomsday: an informal chat about James Joyce</b></a>.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcLJlZCb-nDNzvJAWCvNpYM8lICtkNrRiMRxNgzisGU0m_oL1-jb0a_wtbCaNSIb0WFdoWEZLqdsgQrvpykfXH_VA8XscspRFn9D7AbRpyltFP45xRt5XNl9SIZ_tgET_VSwtyw/s1600/IMG_3229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcLJlZCb-nDNzvJAWCvNpYM8lICtkNrRiMRxNgzisGU0m_oL1-jb0a_wtbCaNSIb0WFdoWEZLqdsgQrvpykfXH_VA8XscspRFn9D7AbRpyltFP45xRt5XNl9SIZ_tgET_VSwtyw/s1600/IMG_3229.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>My Do This Bloomday listing where I incorporated <br />my two favorite lines from Ulysses.</i></td></tr>
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Like most reporters, there were so many things that Jeff and I talked about that just didn't make it into the piece. Below is the rest of the interview where we talk about the ethics of book buying, what booksellers look for, and why my 1st editions of <i>Ulysses</i> and Harry Potter books are worthless to him. For more information about our Bloomsday event, click <a href="http://www.standuplibrarian.com/2014/05/bloomsday-byobook-event-june-16.html"><b>here</b></a>.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-t8pBqR7nBDyPWpbRrc0pIukt2YZ9zC5AiFtDFr_XTO63ud2EOkGuZQrX01_aEaxUe2Or7dmgMhXdM_e_b_NtYAJm42_m9GvAJefpKoCx7HWd1fyFbVu2KJPLVH4DNdkqgyNM5w/s1600/MeredithJeff+Medium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-t8pBqR7nBDyPWpbRrc0pIukt2YZ9zC5AiFtDFr_XTO63ud2EOkGuZQrX01_aEaxUe2Or7dmgMhXdM_e_b_NtYAJm42_m9GvAJefpKoCx7HWd1fyFbVu2KJPLVH4DNdkqgyNM5w/s1600/MeredithJeff+Medium.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Me with Wilson's owner Jeff Morris.</i></td></tr>
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">MM: I’m showing you
my copy of Ulysses where someone has written in pencil on the inside cover
$300, then crossed out and put $125.
Do you think this 3<sup>rd</sup> edition, 1<sup>st</sup> American
edition is worth that much?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">JM: No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s the 3<sup>rd</sup> edition of the
1<sup>st</sup> printing is eh and your dust jacket is absolutely horrendous but
at least it is present, but it is in horrendous condition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you want I can put that dust
jacket…is it complete?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can put
that in a Mylar jacket, you could use it as a dust jacket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">MM: As a librarian,
I’ve seen lots of books being donated to the library and sometimes they smell
like urine, so you don’t always want those.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So if someone brought this in to you, how much would you
offer him or her for it?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">JM: A couple of bucks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">MM: That’s it?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">JM: Yeah, I would put it
out with like twelve bucks on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You didn’t pay $125 for it, did you?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">MM: No, it was a
gift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently a crappy
one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I’ve noticed people come
in here and bringing you books and we are under this assumption that these are
worth something, and they are but it is the words in the books that is worth
the most, not the books themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was so excited to get this mostly because it was from a friend I care
about that’s why t is priceless to me but in this condition as a book buyer…<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">JM: That would be good
stock for the shelves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In order to
sell that, you would have to put the dust jacket together in a Mylar sleeve,
and then you got to post it online with all of the other James Joyce stuff that
is out there and hopefully it will sell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Value is a very fleeting thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">MM: What are you
looking for?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">JM: The better the
condition, absolutely, and the dust jacket is like 70% of the value.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">MM: Wait.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s important for people to
know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Explain that.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">JM: It would be incomplete
without it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it has to be the
dust jacket from the edition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
example, I had a copy of Ian Fleming’s <i>Diamonds Are Forever</i>, a first edition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without the dust jacket?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>50 bucks?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the dust jacket, even slightly beat up?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>350.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a lot of difference in price.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have to have the dust jacket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of the time if something comes in,
I won’t even look at it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s just
one of those things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">MM: What about the
editions?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From First to Second to
Third?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">JM: First edition, first
printing is what you want to strive for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">MM: See, I’ve always
looked for First Editions but now I know to look for First Editions, First
Printings.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">JM: Yeah and for something
like <i>Ulysses</i>, you might as well go ahead and spend the $12,000 to get the
really true First Edition.<b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">MM: What about
signatures?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">JM: Depends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it signed or inscribed?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it signed “Best Wishes, James
Joyce.” Major bucks because he didn’t inscribe it to anybody.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“To Meredith, Thanks for being a great
friend, James Joyce.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah it has
his signature, but as a bookseller, unless I am selling it to someone named
Meredith, or Meredith is a really famous person…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">MM: She’s not.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">JM: Because that adds
profit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">MM: Well if James
Joyce is writing it to me that means he is still alive so it is going to be
worth a lot!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">JM: Or it is a ghost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As long as someone is living, don’t
expect much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if you get a J.K.
Rowling English First Edition of the Harry Potters and it is signed by her –
she doesn’t do a whole lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Stephen King has backed off a whole lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The main thing you want to look for is dead guys.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">MM: Great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have a First Edition Harry Potter but
is an American Edition so now that’s not as cool.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">JM: Nope.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">MM: What if it is
signed by the whole Harry Potter cast?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">JM: Then it becomes more of
a novelty item.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">MM: So if it is
signed by Daniel Radcliffe…<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">JM: I’m not a movie guy so
if you bring in a copy signed by Harry Radcliffe, I wouldn’t really care.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">MM: It's Daniel
Radcliffe who plays Harry Potter…well I guess we aren’t doing a Harry Potter
event anytime soon!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So for anybody
out there that wants to sell you books, what are you looking for?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">JM: I have a list on my
website of the topics we are searching for and I am usually here from 11 – 4
and I prefer for them to just pull up out front.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a lot easier than having them carry boxes back and
forth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another thing I just don’t
understand that 80% of people all do, is when I open the box, they proceed to
tell me what they have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’ve got
biographies over here, and this over here.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s like opening up the hood to your car and telling your
mechanic where the carburetor is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When I go out to a car and open the box, I know within seconds what you
have and pretty much what I wanted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There are two types of
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are the ones that
just want to get books out there so they can find a good home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then there are the people that think
“everything I have is gold” and they don’t believe you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am a member of the Florida
Antiquarian Book Seller Organization, we subscribe to a code of ethics, I’m not
going to blow any smoke up your skirt and the worst thing people can do is tell
me “you know I looked these books up on the internet.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t care if I want those books so
bad that I will then have to wait, I’m probably going to pass just because I
know that person has got an unreasonable expectation in their mind of what
these things are worth and I’m not the guy that is going to talk them out of
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I haven’t got the time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">MM: There you have
it, folks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our books are pretty
much worthless – unless we are READING them!!!!</span></i></b></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJ5bDivFgon_tYtEAPHlpZV4jgnFZARjPkySGHLHkefxhLjB6Y_M_60kQLNsQZyQXVwwRjaTUbrjtwmYktTqZr6nlCNqGX7NEHF1W22u0AIQAKBXpQX0v2By6njrmxzsDO6-EQg/s1600/IMG_3196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJ5bDivFgon_tYtEAPHlpZV4jgnFZARjPkySGHLHkefxhLjB6Y_M_60kQLNsQZyQXVwwRjaTUbrjtwmYktTqZr6nlCNqGX7NEHF1W22u0AIQAKBXpQX0v2By6njrmxzsDO6-EQg/s1600/IMG_3196.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Jeff repaired my edition of Ulysses<br />so I can use it at our Bloomsday event!</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHgvoA7Vgtbd4a2pvONnc2Hph12zkwfrb2LadQ-9Mqe_EeqwxGBqKOfAWJ8ZtpRHyhKBe_aRVW1NvrSyNulAc0-yhJKUzTWJekT6aqVyJJ2Vr_rnEZPQJQjzNvItm6P6TDklgu5w/s1600/Bloomsday+Twitter+Flier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHgvoA7Vgtbd4a2pvONnc2Hph12zkwfrb2LadQ-9Mqe_EeqwxGBqKOfAWJ8ZtpRHyhKBe_aRVW1NvrSyNulAc0-yhJKUzTWJekT6aqVyJJ2Vr_rnEZPQJQjzNvItm6P6TDklgu5w/s1600/Bloomsday+Twitter+Flier.jpg" height="400" width="290" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<br />Stand-Up Librarian Meredith Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13611393954053820223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21712213.post-41221447927022285832014-06-01T11:36:00.002-05:002014-06-01T11:36:55.268-05:00Happy 4th Anniversary StandUpLibrarian.com!<div style="text-align: justify;">
Has it really been<i> four</i> years? You mean, I have kept a job - <i>the same job</i> - for FOUR YEARS? Jeez, now that is a cause for celebration! Truthfully, I started celebrating last night with a friend over a bottle of <a href="http://www.caymus.com/#/our-wines_overview">Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon</a> and therefore am slightly slow this morning on the computer. I also worked my last day at <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"><a href="http://www.homedepot.com/">The Home Depot</a> </span>on Friday, another thing to celebrate - me leaving a job by my own choice and not the other way around. Too many times over the years, I have taken jobs working for other people that I didn't even want and stayed at them much longer than I should have, and when you make decisions like that - not listening to what your instincts are telling you - things are usually not going to go well for anybody involved. Which is why starting today, I hope to work 100% for me...or at least until my money runs out. </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">"So a comedian walks into a library and decides to work there..."</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
That was the tagline that started everything on <a href="http://www.standuplibrarian.com/2010/06/welcome-to-standuplibrariancom.html">June 1, 2010</a>. It was the start of a joke. The beginning of a story. <i> My</i> story. The story that I am finally going to write...and finish. I look at all of the things I have accomplished over the past four years as the <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Stand-Up Librarian</span></b> from <a href="http://www.standuplibrarian.com/p/programs.html">performances</a> and <a href="http://www.standuplibrarian.com/p/blurbs.html">events</a> to <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/MeredithMyersDesigns">literary purses</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/StandUpLibrarian">parody songs</a>, but the two things I wanted more than anything else was to be hired as a librarian at a library and to finish writing my book! A job offer is obviously out of my control, but writing this book has been completely up to me. I talk about it all the time. I say I'm working on it. But I'm not. Because I am scared. <i>What if I suck as a writer? What if I open up my heart and soul to expose my truth and then nobody gives a shit?</i> I also mostly think, <i>Who would hire me after reading this?</i> But then I look at all of the people who have hired me as a result of <i>not</i> writing it. Zero.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Well, except for The Home Depot. They hired me. For $8.25 an hour as a cashier. Talk about a humbling experience for someone with a Masters degree and a ten year career in marketing/public relations. The reasons I went to work there were simple: 1) health benefits; 2) meet dudes; 3) to prove to myself and my parents that I could keep a job. Mission accomplished. Kind of. The company took away health benefits at the end of the year for all part-time employees; most of the male customers were either married, crazy or missing teeth; and I finally realized at almost 40 years old, I shouldn't have to prove anything to anybody, especially that I can work for low wages for people I don't respect. What I did learn was most of my co-workers were awesome people I admire and that DIY really means Do It <i>Yourself</i>! Like seriously, don't expect anybody to help you even when it is part of their job description. It should also mean Do It <i>For </i>Yourself because most of the time you won't win awards or promotions for your work but if you truly enjoy it, then it will be a rewarding experience no matter what. So thank you Home Depot for all that you taught me about <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFTaZWjHAjU">"The Power of Tools."</a></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
My talents may include dancing on a book cart or designing literary accessories but they also include molding my image into a person that is hopefully hireable and likeable, thus concealing the "bad" parts. It is not only exhausting but a huge waste of time. People will eventually see that you know next to nothing about caulking (and don't care to) and when you slice off the tip of your finger or drink too much, you curse like a sailor. Which is why today, four years after I started this whole Stand-Up Librarian journey, that I am going to apologize. For holding back. Some of my best jokes I have not performed. My craziest stories, have not been shared. Why? Because I wanted to protect the people who were assholes. And sometimes that asshole was me. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
That being said, I am going to take the summer off from everything in order to dig deep into my past to finish this book so I can finally let go of the person I was trying to be and become the person I actually am. I owe it to myself. I owe it to my family. I owe it to anybody out there that is discouraged or frustrated about unemployment or struggling to find their passion or simply needs to see that someone like me - someone who didn't "make it" in Hollywood or get hired out of library school - still managed to have a great time by learning to Do It HERSELF.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
See you in a couple of months...</div>
<div>
Meredith</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><i>Comedian. Librarian. Designer. Writer. Publicist. Advocate. FUTURE AUTHOR.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">www.StandUpLibrarian.com</span></div>
Meredith Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07008769783024686195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21712213.post-27403525111702429272014-05-28T09:23:00.000-05:002014-05-28T09:23:01.979-05:00BROAD Comedy: A Tribute to Women Humorists<div style="text-align: justify;">
It has been over three weeks since I hosted Broad Comedy: A Tribute to Women Humorists over at <a href="http://www.thestudioat620.org/">The Studio@620</a> but I am finally having a moment to share some photos and talk about my experience working with these fabulous women where proceeds of over $600 went to benefit <a href="http://www.girlsinc-pinellas.org/">Girls Inc. of Pinellas</a>. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6MNZPoZSWxevogKuUIs94xw87NV4_41wVlszRPPu_zmWwYiOA86PYLQ-Ie6Gl8glgXNSPhcHjho2dkV4UrclK6AwIiv6cEYA09tjPFO-2AjUpy_d1uxBbfqfGjXzpzsBOojsPHA/s1600/BroadComedy+MM+Reading+Kathy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6MNZPoZSWxevogKuUIs94xw87NV4_41wVlszRPPu_zmWwYiOA86PYLQ-Ie6Gl8glgXNSPhcHjho2dkV4UrclK6AwIiv6cEYA09tjPFO-2AjUpy_d1uxBbfqfGjXzpzsBOojsPHA/s1600/BroadComedy+MM+Reading+Kathy.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Reading from my "twin" Kathy Griffin.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKxzvl3KGTOqi_DYQh6Bu91FX1gb23BZ_-6PjvU-DHB2iRy1sTf8ImOZ_IJ4-R8HsLjM9PNZofCuOanX1SeC4336meHjAXUyqunKK783ubswTplddu3Woe7UupF4-LjLWujLTQ0Q/s1600/BroadComedy+MM+StandUp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKxzvl3KGTOqi_DYQh6Bu91FX1gb23BZ_-6PjvU-DHB2iRy1sTf8ImOZ_IJ4-R8HsLjM9PNZofCuOanX1SeC4336meHjAXUyqunKK783ubswTplddu3Woe7UupF4-LjLWujLTQ0Q/s1600/BroadComedy+MM+StandUp.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I made these literary shoes & hat <br />just in time for the event!</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjt_y230fLQUqCGj9zrbDf-2qb6voenWyt2qDd4UJAyL8ddqDoOJ_n8STw7xlw6uQt-MaoNkLWIUdmjzuhQacejPCdcGnlb-OiuI5ekJM7jATHOMYpyeiVGv5wU9fdSDN6sZlFNA/s1600/BroadComedy+MM+Poe4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjt_y230fLQUqCGj9zrbDf-2qb6voenWyt2qDd4UJAyL8ddqDoOJ_n8STw7xlw6uQt-MaoNkLWIUdmjzuhQacejPCdcGnlb-OiuI5ekJM7jATHOMYpyeiVGv5wU9fdSDN6sZlFNA/s1600/BroadComedy+MM+Poe4.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Performing my literary parody songs.</i></td></tr>
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First, I want to give a huge shout out to Stephanie Hayes and the <a href="http://www.tampabay.com/">Tampa Bay Times</a> for featuring me the week leading up to the event with the story <a href="http://www.tampabay.com/things-to-do/stage/stand-up-librarian-diys-her-way-to-comedy-happiness/2177642">"Stand-Up Librarian DIYs her way to comedy happiness"</a> with a photo of me in my bedroom. It really helped bring an awareness to where I do most of my DIY work but also helped promote the event. It was a huge success with standing room only at around 150 people with the highest bar sales ever at The Studio@620. Thank you Stephanie!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiapZl4hqwb3neKSkeuGWfbRnO-2Iz2hcuZWGINM3G0pMmTHzXJP_-vJXbUqRrecm7emHNWj-jHqlBYJxB6hMogIdZHVixEcmd4PaYTpTKMT019284-b3HbAbrB6oW7MXomaffKrw/s1600/MM+Stephanie+Hayes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiapZl4hqwb3neKSkeuGWfbRnO-2Iz2hcuZWGINM3G0pMmTHzXJP_-vJXbUqRrecm7emHNWj-jHqlBYJxB6hMogIdZHVixEcmd4PaYTpTKMT019284-b3HbAbrB6oW7MXomaffKrw/s1600/MM+Stephanie+Hayes.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>With Times reporter Stephanie Hayes, <br />author of Obitchuary.</i></td></tr>
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This incredible event honoring funny women was organized by Gina Vivinetto and Tiffany Razzano of Wordier Than Thou, and thanks to their connections throughout the Tampa Bay area, we had over a dozen women reading excerpts from their favorite female humorists including <i>Kristina Fortner (Amy Poehler), Cathy Wos (Dorothy Parker), Jenny Miller (Ellen DeGeneres), Sarah Fryett (Sarah Vowell), Julie Garisto (Fran Lebowtiz), Heather Jones (Wendy Wasserstein), Lisa Lanser Rose (Paula Poundstone), Meredith Myers (Sarah Bernhard & Kathy Griffin), Emily Nipps (Mindy Kaling), Nadine Smith (Tina Fey), Mitzi Gordon (Mary Karr) and Tenea D. Johnson (Lily Tomlin)</i>. Thank you Gina and Tiffany!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fA_vUtWrY0RirSq-UUV_RfeccncEX1t6jcp_zEFr9JPvdqOWP3Oxx3UbgZQeP4zjPFCPMcy6hcPexlAQcS3muocKoP9CETCI9eURVLe_P8x-v5404kweNg5XhfP6UbJ4aQU5nA/s1600/GinaTiffnayMMBroadComedy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fA_vUtWrY0RirSq-UUV_RfeccncEX1t6jcp_zEFr9JPvdqOWP3Oxx3UbgZQeP4zjPFCPMcy6hcPexlAQcS3muocKoP9CETCI9eURVLe_P8x-v5404kweNg5XhfP6UbJ4aQU5nA/s1600/GinaTiffnayMMBroadComedy.JPG" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>With event organizers Gina V & Tiffany Razzano.</i></td></tr>
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We also had a variety of donations from Tampa Bay authors and organizations to give out as raffle prizes so thanks to <i>Gypsy Stage Repertory Company, Deadly Rival Roller Derby, The Body Electric Yoga Company, Dance Forever, Lucky Star Salon, Stand-Up Librarian Designs, Heather Jones, Natty Moss Bend, Rebekah Pulley, Lynn Waddell, Gina Vivinetto, Deborah Frethem, Von Simeon, Stephanie Hayes, Lisa Lanser Rose and Tenea D. Johnson</i>.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIU_D19XveVmewpj7aB91r2ApIi_QvNJpsha9wLYmHcR979UETxCpxNfkT9dpOlboS9YNbc7kVliCvb1W7B6bDf5Zv7IFiNgCPhL5tsnO46IMk8mx3HfiKCS2BH9FMQ_8QjBDSwg/s1600/BroadComedy+MM+Gina+Raffle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIU_D19XveVmewpj7aB91r2ApIi_QvNJpsha9wLYmHcR979UETxCpxNfkT9dpOlboS9YNbc7kVliCvb1W7B6bDf5Zv7IFiNgCPhL5tsnO46IMk8mx3HfiKCS2BH9FMQ_8QjBDSwg/s1600/BroadComedy+MM+Gina+Raffle.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Gina helps with the raffle.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjoN8DLEfZnbBOPBviGlIcvMT1GumJq52fFACepFge5hbbji00tiYmt9desVzv8JCFgbsqzjVoC5qDRcIYGZxV7CxUqcn7A-ldHVObXq-Xxl9qkiQl4rNvHSM9q2JduhTXL-dkJg/s1600/BroadComedy+Raffle+Items.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjoN8DLEfZnbBOPBviGlIcvMT1GumJq52fFACepFge5hbbji00tiYmt9desVzv8JCFgbsqzjVoC5qDRcIYGZxV7CxUqcn7A-ldHVObXq-Xxl9qkiQl4rNvHSM9q2JduhTXL-dkJg/s1600/BroadComedy+Raffle+Items.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Raffle items.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4NIaU6QvXp7tLVdyIOq2GFOa3pn7jRECNqGpUtAiOXztraQRxfedfYywVeRKRKpV7SfbE04IsKY3BpUqJU-ytAR97S-xyz5mKIhl1MkpMQ0Xe1kWjQlKEzsLnZECPvmvxli9_gA/s1600/BroadComedy+Von+Raffle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4NIaU6QvXp7tLVdyIOq2GFOa3pn7jRECNqGpUtAiOXztraQRxfedfYywVeRKRKpV7SfbE04IsKY3BpUqJU-ytAR97S-xyz5mKIhl1MkpMQ0Xe1kWjQlKEzsLnZECPvmvxli9_gA/s1600/BroadComedy+Von+Raffle.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Von helps choose the winner.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-a0T8RWoQVUIxVlPGXeM_E8muh_cC0hkEdExyOwms64qXdD3m0IX3LSar9t5E_3Xkjqn_lyRivxuTviRugrHMoERJzpsKZUd4P650z8TH8a51PkdhqBKkUlgHy_af4ee1Uw__YA/s1600/BroadComedy+MM+Lisa+Raffle+Book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-a0T8RWoQVUIxVlPGXeM_E8muh_cC0hkEdExyOwms64qXdD3m0IX3LSar9t5E_3Xkjqn_lyRivxuTviRugrHMoERJzpsKZUd4P650z8TH8a51PkdhqBKkUlgHy_af4ee1Uw__YA/s1600/BroadComedy+MM+Lisa+Raffle+Book.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Lisa donates one of her books.</i></td></tr>
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Once again, I want to thank all of the people that came out to participate and support this event honoring women and showing the world once again that women ARE funny and can absolutely pack a room!!!!!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPwt0HSeDwp6bBf2Ow_LCZOssVquy8_MzDNCV2S_Ey1bGB3EESr7jF_mxaJpUABTT0ufs7e3YR0zpXG8mwNZRB4wjwXfGpdJl6kred2mAkBAC7mZ0a652IL7ILEMpUrJSmqkh92Q/s1600/BroadComedy+Emily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPwt0HSeDwp6bBf2Ow_LCZOssVquy8_MzDNCV2S_Ey1bGB3EESr7jF_mxaJpUABTT0ufs7e3YR0zpXG8mwNZRB4wjwXfGpdJl6kred2mAkBAC7mZ0a652IL7ILEMpUrJSmqkh92Q/s1600/BroadComedy+Emily.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Emily reads Mindy.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihJWd7PkTMeBWODjEyq9eoOEdAHtR23LF0C5KcAqOHYLPHWqoUAWYh70SOE8PTV8wUFUrUErMsRxsTrZeEdSxDhT4alIHgKRDS6bkGb6pakJqedHXLXUNJeTcqAqt-OfUkHAV-Pg/s1600/BroadComedy+Julie+Book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihJWd7PkTMeBWODjEyq9eoOEdAHtR23LF0C5KcAqOHYLPHWqoUAWYh70SOE8PTV8wUFUrUErMsRxsTrZeEdSxDhT4alIHgKRDS6bkGb6pakJqedHXLXUNJeTcqAqt-OfUkHAV-Pg/s1600/BroadComedy+Julie+Book.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Julie reads Fran.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3EkyuoyMAU9GSzthW-ZzL5YMrKNYyMXCAib7j-xJcTPGURjb21hY4_qWbjLB5zlr0YzKnO4USPiMA9uJooU8kyiUq_dBZK8lW1bY5RA4df0rbQ1aMyg6mq2mdjizwKkAMKPtYNQ/s1600/BroadComedy+Jenny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3EkyuoyMAU9GSzthW-ZzL5YMrKNYyMXCAib7j-xJcTPGURjb21hY4_qWbjLB5zlr0YzKnO4USPiMA9uJooU8kyiUq_dBZK8lW1bY5RA4df0rbQ1aMyg6mq2mdjizwKkAMKPtYNQ/s1600/BroadComedy+Jenny.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Jenny performs Ellen.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJInRMOuxCAjHDqTjFuH6zf0FKp3lSUzBEKKrhBsaWXKl-Sgzh_ldx2LehIrz7ukIim8gtJ_7fV1v5SA1P3LZZcw3bxTK5EgrmJFS64EtuvkK89-1XnuHom9_hXMWF-gx_U04Rg/s1600/BroadComedy+Cathy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJInRMOuxCAjHDqTjFuH6zf0FKp3lSUzBEKKrhBsaWXKl-Sgzh_ldx2LehIrz7ukIim8gtJ_7fV1v5SA1P3LZZcw3bxTK5EgrmJFS64EtuvkK89-1XnuHom9_hXMWF-gx_U04Rg/s1600/BroadComedy+Cathy.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Cathy reads Dorothy.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKO54rWgJG17gsrCrGsnU6UP2aeI7Iml-3Fdli1pGtHRjKuDqwUdHpocI3grHeoQl9AGafjFW2X8XnzAwrrdSjUGJXxcKtG8jEtyxz5pCGA4IqNAfImEfNa0WSD6jXPbQczxUlbw/s1600/BroadComedy+Kristina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKO54rWgJG17gsrCrGsnU6UP2aeI7Iml-3Fdli1pGtHRjKuDqwUdHpocI3grHeoQl9AGafjFW2X8XnzAwrrdSjUGJXxcKtG8jEtyxz5pCGA4IqNAfImEfNa0WSD6jXPbQczxUlbw/s1600/BroadComedy+Kristina.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Kristina of Girls Inc.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgqqEu08Vi3pVH-wev4uYfAGMWBp1jcmtDfgNtPY_wnxRgtiIkk-brWiXIe_o_7JLiZvdMNnhKxYCnlpxBqbRNSjuOAE6_Q-bIhDwtQC-z6AHi1QWKPciK7Y_zL5ucSVwkHJWJMg/s1600/BroadComedy+Heather.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgqqEu08Vi3pVH-wev4uYfAGMWBp1jcmtDfgNtPY_wnxRgtiIkk-brWiXIe_o_7JLiZvdMNnhKxYCnlpxBqbRNSjuOAE6_Q-bIhDwtQC-z6AHi1QWKPciK7Y_zL5ucSVwkHJWJMg/s1600/BroadComedy+Heather.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Heather reads Wendy.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZ0r1_WUz_GjFbIQWV8KbTSubN05d29-R0uD0u3D9-z83skDuQ1W5WX66mKKAJ_UVwJTLdm6uYSkVwj4HQqh5-1pwXaUiGiragw_wJoe65RiSs4pe74-zNRuTSm7Zi5Mf5xKRig/s1600/BroadComedy+Mitzi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZ0r1_WUz_GjFbIQWV8KbTSubN05d29-R0uD0u3D9-z83skDuQ1W5WX66mKKAJ_UVwJTLdm6uYSkVwj4HQqh5-1pwXaUiGiragw_wJoe65RiSs4pe74-zNRuTSm7Zi5Mf5xKRig/s1600/BroadComedy+Mitzi.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Mitzi reads Mary.</i></td></tr>
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<i>A special thanks to Desiree Fantal of It's Worth A Shot Photography for all of these photos. </i><i>For more photos from the event, please visit my Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/StandUpLibrarian">here</a>. </i></div>
<br />Meredith Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07008769783024686195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21712213.post-38229269170375889142014-05-16T12:16:00.000-05:002014-05-16T12:16:52.150-05:00BLOOMSDAY - BYOBook Event - June 16<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>So excited to announce an event I have been wanting to do for years...</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">To celebrate the life of Irish writer </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><b>JAMES JOYCE</b> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823;">and his groundbreaking novel </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><b>ULYSSES</b></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823;">, </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/WordierThanThou"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Wordier Than Thou</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823;">,</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><a href="http://StandUpLibrarian.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">StandUpLibrarian.com</span></a> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823;">and </span><a href="http://www.wilsonsbookworld.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Wilson's Book World</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823;">present</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823;"> </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/events/1509940272561535"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">BLOOMSDAY - BYOBook</span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823;"> on Monday, June 16 from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. at Wilson's.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Hosted by</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=122323204502592" href="https://www.facebook.com/StandUpLibrarian" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Stand-Up Librarian Meredith Myers</span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">and</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=100000821367862" href="https://www.facebook.com/jeff.morris.921" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Jeff Morris</span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">of Wilson's Book World, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><b>BLO</b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><b>OMSDAY - BYOBook</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823;"> will feature readings from </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Ulysses</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823;"> and performances honoring </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Joyce</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823;">, plus offer a variety of Irish-themed refreshments all with the mission to unite the community in reading one of the most important works of modernist literature. The event is completely FREE and will also feature special </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Bloomsday/James Joyce</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823;">-inspired literary accessories by </span><a href="http://www.standuplibrariandesigns.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Stand-Up Librarian Designs</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823;">.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Your literary hosts Meredith Myers & Jeff Morris.</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">"Think of this night as one kick-ass book club </span></span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823;">because if you are going to read a tough novel like </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Ulysses</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823;">, </span></span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823; font-size: x-small;">why not do it with a Guinness in one hand </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823; font-size: x-small;">and a microphone in the other? </span></i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823;">St. Petersburg, get your books out and let's </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPh6pPNA2sM"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b>JOYCE Around</b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823;">!" </span></span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">- Stand-Up Librarian Meredith Myers</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">To RSVP for the event, visit our FB event page <a href="http://www.facebook.com/events/1509940272561535"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b>here</b></span></a>. For more information or to get involved with reading or submitting any <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Bloomsday/Joyce</span>-inspired art or performance piece, please contact Tiffany Razzano at <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">WordierThanThou@gmail.com</span> or Meredith Myers at<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"> StandUpLibrarianMM@gmail.com</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">***Leading up to the event on June 16th, Meredith and Tiffany will be also be sharing their personal experiences reading <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><i>Ulysses</i></span> on Twitter. To get involved and read along, follow Meredith <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><a href="https://twitter.com/StandUpLibraryN"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">@StandUpLibraryN</span></a> </span>and Tiffany <a href="https://twitter.com/WordierThanThou"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">@WordierThanThou</span></a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823;">For a direct link to Meredith's </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">"JOYCE Around"</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823;"> literary music video honoring </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><b>James Joyce</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823;">, click </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPh6pPNA2sM">here</a>.</span></b></i></span></div>
<br />Meredith Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07008769783024686195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21712213.post-69387721132396290462014-05-08T15:03:00.001-05:002014-05-08T15:03:24.789-05:00Graduating With HonorIt only just dawned on me that four years ago today, I graduated with my Masters degree in <a href="http://si.usf.edu/">Library & Information Sciences</a> from the <a href="http://www.usf.edu/">University of South Florida</a>. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">My graduation photo hangs<br />on the wall of my library design studio.</span></i></td></tr>
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Earning that degree was one of the hardest things I've ever done...that is, until I created <a href="http://www.StandUpLibrarian.com/">Stand-Up Librarian</a>. When you are in school, there is a plan. Assignments with study guides. Support from professors and classmates. Advice from career counselors. There are also days off and spring break. Finally, if you study hard and get good grades, you get to put on that cap and gown, walk across a stage, shake a hand and take a photo while hearing your name on the loudspeakers. Your parents cheer and you go to a nice dinner to celebrate. Then if you are one of a chosen few, you might even have a library job to go to the following week. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Graduation day, 2010. Will I get a job?</i></td></tr>
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But when that job doesn't come and you are sitting alone in your room wondering why you studied so hard, you are left with none of that. Instead your mind is filled with stories of not being good enough, smart enough, nice enough. That your job application got lost or your email never really went through. Or maybe someone is talking shit about you from that restaurant job you got fired from ten years ago. Yeah, and then as if things can't get worse, the one man you ever loved tells you he met someone else. </div>
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You sit there at your computer staring at a blank screen wanting someone to reach out to you, tell you what to do, that things will get better. Your stomach screams for food but you can't move. Instead you laugh. You write. You create <a href="http://StandUpLibrarian.com/">StandUpLibrarian.com</a> because the person you need, is YOU.</div>
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It has taken me four long years and a lot of job applications to finally realize that earning my LIS degree was not necessarily about working <i>at</i> the library but more about using that knowledge combined with my own abilities, experiences and passions to create the job I am most suited for. After all, it is only when you are authentically yourself that you are best able to serve your community and the people who reside in it.</div>
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So the next time you feel lost, alone, defeated, come find me. If anything, I'll at least write you back :) </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">Librarian, May 8, 2010.</span></i></td></tr>
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Meredith Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07008769783024686195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21712213.post-29553728513510111172014-04-30T19:25:00.003-05:002014-04-30T19:25:42.874-05:00World Book Night 2014: Kitchen Confidential<div style="text-align: justify;">
I didn't think I could top last year's <a href="http://www.us.worldbooknight.org/">World Book Night</a> when I went to McCurdy's Comedy Club in Sarasota to perform my literary comedy and give my favorite book - <i>The Alchemist</i> by <a href="http://www.paulocoelho.com/">Paulo Coelho</a> - to the entire audience (click <a href="http://www.standuplibrarian.com/2013/04/world-book-night-at-mccurdys-comedy-club.html">here</a> to see that post) BUT...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL32KT7BAz4f5qaHl9mh1e7qSxgkHmTw8iABrM2UdOwPmAQyJbBTSwr0B09cWnD7bW_8VreWNmUMEsAnQDM7gpL6DU1qFPlCa_S7t3cPMDgM5qBcTRVtRqD5_P69Q_sckUQ9zsNA/s1600/IMG_1832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL32KT7BAz4f5qaHl9mh1e7qSxgkHmTw8iABrM2UdOwPmAQyJbBTSwr0B09cWnD7bW_8VreWNmUMEsAnQDM7gpL6DU1qFPlCa_S7t3cPMDgM5qBcTRVtRqD5_P69Q_sckUQ9zsNA/s1600/IMG_1832.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain <br />is a must read for any F&B employee!</i></td></tr>
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Having been a waitress like 15 times, I couldn't help but to request <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AnthonyBourdain">Anthony Bourdain</a>'s delicious tell-all <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kitchen-Confidential-Updated-Edition-Adventures/dp/0060899220">Kitchen Confidential</a></i> about the food & beverage industry for World Book Night 2014. Bourdain is a real bad ass and an incredible chef who loves to travel and get into trouble...so I guess you could say he was right up my alley.</div>
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Because the book was about working in the F&B industry, I already knew I was going to give it out at a restaurant. It made sense. Plus, there was a chance I could get free food! It was only the night before - typical of most of my brilliant ideas - that I thought 'Hey, wouldn't it be fun to revisit all of the those restaurants that I used to work at?' The question I should have been asking was <i>'Would I have enough books?'</i> Or <i>'Would they let me back in the door?' </i></div>
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I kid I kid. I only got fired from a couple. I mean, who tips a quarter? And, maybe that dude didn't really need a cappuccino at 11pm at night! Anyway, I've been writing a book about my journey into becoming the Stand-Up Librarian and sadly, I've had to relive a lot of those server jobs, but thankfully most of them were run into the ground by the idiots managing them so I was left with just a few to visit.</div>
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So because I am a huge hoarder (and it also makes sense to take my future bestselling book to the stage with original costumes), I have kept all of my server outfits - collared shirts, aprons, bow ties and check presenters. I grabbed an old Fleming's bar apron, covered the logo with a Geisha check presenter, added the standard 3 pens and wine key (in case they asked me to work), and on April 23rd, headed to four of my old restaurants ready to celebrate some of the hardest working people I know with free books! Here is a photo journey of where I went...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDKNNWkXQfjbJr1wNohGsmUXEU_xFejO2i0ThcgzXcfjwsX-5pR8R-VRBRuiEqK7r-amNa8q8jna_IBZcWB8Cf6X_QMccSYdoNzH2e-MEskemwMLPomQrNB_xmEOSys_ePIv-mjQ/s1600/IMG_1837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDKNNWkXQfjbJr1wNohGsmUXEU_xFejO2i0ThcgzXcfjwsX-5pR8R-VRBRuiEqK7r-amNa8q8jna_IBZcWB8Cf6X_QMccSYdoNzH2e-MEskemwMLPomQrNB_xmEOSys_ePIv-mjQ/s1600/IMG_1837.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Wearing my old bar apron from Fleming's to pass <br />out free copies of Kitchen Confidential for WBN 2014!</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFehV1lL8rPnteDtUwLM7rTB50LsU-QMsOqU-YjWVoIHQCEj3E48gX-K8y7J1H7xm3lxfIk56FOVRGUp0IzRyAosNqzT-5YUVSJ3Esdjsx0IMPn9A7Yb8ZwAk3YhisuANfVOXKg/s1600/WBN+SSCafe.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFehV1lL8rPnteDtUwLM7rTB50LsU-QMsOqU-YjWVoIHQCEj3E48gX-K8y7J1H7xm3lxfIk56FOVRGUp0IzRyAosNqzT-5YUVSJ3Esdjsx0IMPn9A7Yb8ZwAk3YhisuANfVOXKg/s1600/WBN+SSCafe.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Giving free books to all of the cooks at the Sweet Sage Cafe. <br />I worked here in 2004! Thanks to owner John Messmore.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihH5qC32arkNs65vLG-PA-Es7X8jwWdBJRWEIqe-uWMLGbKBr1BURUM5rMEWTpCLu5GYIKsUkvZHg-5iCwLALB2jmZV9eDlu2ybIGpZmYWhNIutizHM5VwBuK0jBpBkcApMh69bQ/s1600/IMG_1842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihH5qC32arkNs65vLG-PA-Es7X8jwWdBJRWEIqe-uWMLGbKBr1BURUM5rMEWTpCLu5GYIKsUkvZHg-5iCwLALB2jmZV9eDlu2ybIGpZmYWhNIutizHM5VwBuK0jBpBkcApMh69bQ/s1600/IMG_1842.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Giving the waitstaff at Lee Roy Selmon's free books! <br />I worked here in 2006 when I started my Masters degree.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMJxnKiqREk2QsAoAz7GCkHqSxoWfFJf2-PNJnGoRbNdHE8Q6YdCiQxEX31watfGv5A16sUj3PsD95yL1-6QE0jYGNfM07p4CecQy68ra7abLoTXXr6up4_qsvhmUw6ZQYPd4Uw/s1600/IMG_1851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMJxnKiqREk2QsAoAz7GCkHqSxoWfFJf2-PNJnGoRbNdHE8Q6YdCiQxEX31watfGv5A16sUj3PsD95yL1-6QE0jYGNfM07p4CecQy68ra7abLoTXXr6up4_qsvhmUw6ZQYPd4Uw/s1600/IMG_1851.JPG" height="275" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I visited my old co-workers Chris, Roy & Greg at <br />Ya Ya's Flame Broiled Chicken to give them free books. <br />This was my very first job in 1990! I was a cashier <br />but I loved cutting the chicken with the butcher knife.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoX3J2MybluGNHSeoext6nATXWbMqx4JOFPuKeW-p6KdQqpMEjbGuza2Gv4GN_EIj84Wg4UuD-uSFa4IsH1_kN4V0quf9V-CapjM_oQgYGIjZWJ011vDfz4YlBuzWpjIk0_7OUNg/s1600/IMG_1857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoX3J2MybluGNHSeoext6nATXWbMqx4JOFPuKeW-p6KdQqpMEjbGuza2Gv4GN_EIj84Wg4UuD-uSFa4IsH1_kN4V0quf9V-CapjM_oQgYGIjZWJ011vDfz4YlBuzWpjIk0_7OUNg/s1600/IMG_1857.jpg" height="320" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Finally, I had a few books left to drop off with <br />Jeremy at the Daiquiri Deck where I worked in 2005 <br />while trying to write my first book.</i></td></tr>
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Lastly, I met up with my mom and helped her pass out <i>100 Best-Loved Poems</i> to those enjoying the beach at sunset. It seemed a great way to end World Book Night with the soft white sand at my feet and a heart made out of seaweed. </div>
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I LOVE World Book Night!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKzVTPgC6r21hixg7njiMx4rgeqFfWA1Wc3bas9PnZz8TtMoifwubocb_-J_zyf8ezidf5R63isIs_TLebcqMZmFXKDbQ8JoodwzWfYsAmOQ54LEAVdNXFioIpcxCxN6A1BXPrg/s1600/IMG_1863.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKzVTPgC6r21hixg7njiMx4rgeqFfWA1Wc3bas9PnZz8TtMoifwubocb_-J_zyf8ezidf5R63isIs_TLebcqMZmFXKDbQ8JoodwzWfYsAmOQ54LEAVdNXFioIpcxCxN6A1BXPrg/s1600/IMG_1863.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>What's more poetic than a seaweed heart?</i></td></tr>
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Meredith Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07008769783024686195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21712213.post-74130172556550362842014-04-22T13:43:00.003-05:002014-04-22T13:43:42.453-05:00DIY - The Power of YOU!<div style="text-align: justify;">
It was just last month that I celebrated my one year anniversary with <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/">The Home Depot</a>. I had originally applied there because they were one of the few companies that offered part-time employees health benefits (plus the single girl in me thought it might also be a great way to meet some dudes! ha ha) So while the men turned out to be either crazy or already married and the health benefits went away at the end of the year due to Obamacare, I found that the one thing The Home Depot kept giving me was the opportunity to work as a librarian!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOzPWVjOmJJHk7FpkKNHMHorei2zFouy5Rzfw18xnudqIDHZDVdrR3tgYz4RAJsCG-vSEjChs_PSwhutjY_LdtzxOXXL8C0ViMHgYQQ4Td3_alpV169JThIrJsqd7lNeFfxLq2Hw/s1600/IMG_1346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOzPWVjOmJJHk7FpkKNHMHorei2zFouy5Rzfw18xnudqIDHZDVdrR3tgYz4RAJsCG-vSEjChs_PSwhutjY_LdtzxOXXL8C0ViMHgYQQ4Td3_alpV169JThIrJsqd7lNeFfxLq2Hw/s1600/IMG_1346.JPG" height="200" width="200" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqecDrIfHnF9jrQr_jDtb_1KHKtIq9Il9JMcqmI9zxlYk8gmbLlrcK4N3IPiYmSmFWyqMeaHHY-19vyczG0bNTZPWqjhaIFG48o40sckbn9d1VbrMy0742T7AkbQs89GH2-dG5Nw/s1600/IMG_1343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqecDrIfHnF9jrQr_jDtb_1KHKtIq9Il9JMcqmI9zxlYk8gmbLlrcK4N3IPiYmSmFWyqMeaHHY-19vyczG0bNTZPWqjhaIFG48o40sckbn9d1VbrMy0742T7AkbQs89GH2-dG5Nw/s1600/IMG_1343.JPG" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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Starting out as a Cashier was like working the circulation desk, making sure each patron found everything they needed in the store and giving them great customer service. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqFEMlR2KnZVqwhKxewTPYDEN2k7qeFDB8QC_LCXeQ4Tqp6CPzUxplimaZmm9wbRkHwuf83vcfDEaFkoxU4P3rfdwq-nKw5xnZijp0bMgdbzVG5PBgw6jNVfBDYP_6aDz-LUt6A/s1600/IMG_9312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqFEMlR2KnZVqwhKxewTPYDEN2k7qeFDB8QC_LCXeQ4Tqp6CPzUxplimaZmm9wbRkHwuf83vcfDEaFkoxU4P3rfdwq-nKw5xnZijp0bMgdbzVG5PBgw6jNVfBDYP_6aDz-LUt6A/s1600/IMG_9312.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Circulation Desk, Los Feliz Library, 2009</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4M7tj1LJvDm4XuVgeFsljOXyetzT3iVxPTQXzebm1_2U5MWPhE3qx96U1jXjHrbn9HQ2zbDxWMoJ9kNj6Jy0qxhXplEbJYaelmfsF-gZ7uTjCDOfJea1BtPnge09Q5_Afu19tmg/s1600/IMG_5424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4M7tj1LJvDm4XuVgeFsljOXyetzT3iVxPTQXzebm1_2U5MWPhE3qx96U1jXjHrbn9HQ2zbDxWMoJ9kNj6Jy0qxhXplEbJYaelmfsF-gZ7uTjCDOfJea1BtPnge09Q5_Afu19tmg/s1600/IMG_5424.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Cashier, The Home Depot, 2013</i></td></tr>
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Then as a Greeter, it was like working the reference desk, assisting patrons with information and helping them find certain products in the store. Then if we didn't have it, showing them how easy it was to use the in-store computer to find it online. Plus I was able to wear all of my fun outfits! I actually got my first Homer award because a woman wrote in saying how much she loved them. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8z8o0Z9jPdQunuDnegL029TzrkXlD7hmZXN4CX_CopGX-mt-EHeTbsofN8Zp_6h41GDDy3_Lsu4eDtrnDe-0N-vOF_1S8jKh6WtKl6Q5xpCZtJB7zjTgl3KnHq85bmqt76N3gqA/s1600/IMG_9306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8z8o0Z9jPdQunuDnegL029TzrkXlD7hmZXN4CX_CopGX-mt-EHeTbsofN8Zp_6h41GDDy3_Lsu4eDtrnDe-0N-vOF_1S8jKh6WtKl6Q5xpCZtJB7zjTgl3KnHq85bmqt76N3gqA/s1600/IMG_9306.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Reference Desk, Los Feliz Library, 2009</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xeYMCgfuBRgbnInxhhmgqA2Xc88RScs7_QTh8JHKJlWtmuSi7E3Ax0uqqvL6jX8A0PigpR_CPcBPS0WF7ZjsaDQxaneIIczjlgi2c47qkHm-TrKrfJ3_9ri6lcXheWQTMecClQ/s1600/MM+July4th.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xeYMCgfuBRgbnInxhhmgqA2Xc88RScs7_QTh8JHKJlWtmuSi7E3Ax0uqqvL6jX8A0PigpR_CPcBPS0WF7ZjsaDQxaneIIczjlgi2c47qkHm-TrKrfJ3_9ri6lcXheWQTMecClQ/s1600/MM+July4th.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Greeter, The Home Depot, 2013</i></td></tr>
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In leading the <a href="http://workshops.homedepot.com/workshops/kids-workshops">Kids Workshop</a> on the first Saturday of every month, I was like a Children's Librarian doing fun arts & crafts with the kids, while teaching them how to hold hammers and express themselves through paint. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIHLvFEgFE2jErcdXeDQ4wHNUdkw17tuIG9SLSOY_tBvSWyJt1HeP_QZIyrauMK0_rz6sLEc00IqiD61iXn9zEqULGXb3ysn0VSeLFI4bQOlVNnw-z1_1oV4FbcLR_ap8T3Z2YQw/s1600/IMG_9287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIHLvFEgFE2jErcdXeDQ4wHNUdkw17tuIG9SLSOY_tBvSWyJt1HeP_QZIyrauMK0_rz6sLEc00IqiD61iXn9zEqULGXb3ysn0VSeLFI4bQOlVNnw-z1_1oV4FbcLR_ap8T3Z2YQw/s1600/IMG_9287.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Children's Program, Los Feliz Library, 2009</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAX6gJrBcKaQTwDPh_XlRoVt_cX_xSRMx-fQnKnKwQk4w94hvilS_NZv_7Qj2jmzJciAdSPgIxmy3H0MHR8FHt4LgtwndZxgSS-l3V55ovaRVwEySZEzBB97GH-KdgTjj45zlHUw/s1600/MM+Kid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAX6gJrBcKaQTwDPh_XlRoVt_cX_xSRMx-fQnKnKwQk4w94hvilS_NZv_7Qj2jmzJciAdSPgIxmy3H0MHR8FHt4LgtwndZxgSS-l3V55ovaRVwEySZEzBB97GH-KdgTjj45zlHUw/s1600/MM+Kid.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Kids Workshop, The Home Depot, 2013</i></td></tr>
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As Captain of the <a href="http://workshops.homedepot.com/workshops/do-it-herself-workshops">Do-It Herself Workshop</a>, it was like book club but instead of books, we discuss how to use power tools to build storage trunks or the purpose of grouting tile for that fabulous floor. In place of free bookmarks, the ladies get DIH gift bags and are able to take home all of the projects they make - for free!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Book Club, 2012</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbR230i5oyzZGbFIeBgkNIqhRde08HFy4yXybIwheTgVjQ6fyCqUO33O7kDWe8I6sOpLaipnNp2-ryeoKEz11DT8-kBYq6TGloaZUWskchbDei5vhKHxmkDCSVR8veTh1f_z11EA/s1600/IMG_0922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbR230i5oyzZGbFIeBgkNIqhRde08HFy4yXybIwheTgVjQ6fyCqUO33O7kDWe8I6sOpLaipnNp2-ryeoKEz11DT8-kBYq6TGloaZUWskchbDei5vhKHxmkDCSVR8veTh1f_z11EA/s1600/IMG_0922.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Do-It Herself Workshop, The Home Depot, 2014</i></td></tr>
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Now as a Paint Sales Associate, I've not only learned more about the differences in paint and stains, but I've applied that knowledge to my library renovations at home! Thanks to my experiences at The Home Depot, my card catalogue is truly one-of-a kind...a checkerboard effect to represent both the librarian and the comedian, and holds all of my sewing supplies for <a href="http://www.standuplibrariandesigns.com/">my literary fashion business</a>.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8xJMD2LDMSREXeG_Y0aSLSEvGscifBsThkfOVJMnSedxsEhyphenhyphenasWq_8UsUVRTtvOPFCyEOUWyWYkc0R8zleu2th6wWY5qPtLmgbCJA8TewTgCAXmeXxm_jCr51c8Zztmy0sdJkTA/s1600/IMG_4151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8xJMD2LDMSREXeG_Y0aSLSEvGscifBsThkfOVJMnSedxsEhyphenhyphenasWq_8UsUVRTtvOPFCyEOUWyWYkc0R8zleu2th6wWY5qPtLmgbCJA8TewTgCAXmeXxm_jCr51c8Zztmy0sdJkTA/s1600/IMG_4151.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Card Catalogue - Before</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg08hGp6kdIfR2BHIAZiO8pWCeM0yf7YYJdttYYk3PRAxMvlNFdZIGhkz5-7cjIsnwma_SUDvSzw6s-ofbq3yU0xkL8u8rf0EJjZYNsZwp3EfoNkbE0n2duoMmEF0a-5lZL6Et6gg/s1600/IMG_4529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg08hGp6kdIfR2BHIAZiO8pWCeM0yf7YYJdttYYk3PRAxMvlNFdZIGhkz5-7cjIsnwma_SUDvSzw6s-ofbq3yU0xkL8u8rf0EJjZYNsZwp3EfoNkbE0n2duoMmEF0a-5lZL6Et6gg/s1600/IMG_4529.jpg" height="200" width="173" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Card Catalogue - During</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5vHCmSErZi7wfUhbqBAsIkU2sGKOrXQ0-D2H56nphz3lYY3RMlhYJTIZwdvmUv8x6USqfjqlzSVwwFq3nc8yRVclIwwx_nqYbfQ4b8f1YfJNfy9vgU11jI1fxey6ZEAanE7H5g/s1600/IMG_4900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5vHCmSErZi7wfUhbqBAsIkU2sGKOrXQ0-D2H56nphz3lYY3RMlhYJTIZwdvmUv8x6USqfjqlzSVwwFq3nc8yRVclIwwx_nqYbfQ4b8f1YfJNfy9vgU11jI1fxey6ZEAanE7H5g/s1600/IMG_4900.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Card Catalogue - Today</i></td></tr>
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The point is...I am a librarian and I will always be a librarian no matter where I work. In addition to my job at The Home Depot, I am also a librarian promoting libraries and literacy in my literary comedy shows. The audience are my patrons and the stage is my reference desk. When you open yourself up to experiences outside of your comfort zone, you will always see the results in ways you never imagined. Just last week, I performed my first non-literary parody song <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFTaZWjHAjU&list=UUhWMGR-Q5yFZmoFizJxewrA">"The Power of Tools"</a> and told jokes inspired by my experiences working in home improvement. I certainly never imagined that would ever happen! But if there is one thing I have learned over this last year it is this - YOU HAVE THE POWER so stop waiting for others to help you or realize your potential, just DO IT YOURSELF! </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/2qD7I-d7C7Q?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Performing some home improvement comedy & "The Power of Tools" </span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">live at ARTpool Gallery on April 12th. For a direct link, click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qD7I-d7C7Q&list=UUhWMGR-Q5yFZmoFizJxewrA">here</a>.</span></i></div>
Meredith Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07008769783024686195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21712213.post-4661277526505596292014-04-14T22:20:00.000-05:002014-04-14T22:20:09.327-05:00Thank You FL Antiquarian Book Fair!<div>
I can't believe it has been one month since the 33rd Annual Florida Antiquarian Book Fair! It seems I have been going nonstop ever since (mostly sewing over 20 custom orders from the fair) but I have finally forced myself to sit down for a few moments to share some of my thoughts and favorite moments...</div>
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What a fantastic weekend! I was so proud to be the spokesperson for the book fair this year and I absolutely must thank Book Fair Manager Sarah Smith and All-Around Media Guy Allan Smith for that. We met two years ago and discussed working together and it finally happened! I had a blast running around St. Petersburg with Allan meeting local business owners and interviewing some of my favorite people in the community about books. Allan did an incredible job of taking photos and shooting video footage which he later edited into videos to promote the fair online. We worked together to publicize the fair utilizing both print and social media which resulted in the largest (and youngest) attendance at the fair in many, many years! To view those video interviews, please visit my YouTube page<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/StandUpLibrarian">here</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none;">.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>With Sarah Smith and Allan Smith of the Book Fair.</i></td></tr>
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As spokesperson, I got the chance to open the book fair with a performance on the front steps of The Coliseum and was also featured in some of our local media where I discussed my journey into becoming the Stand-Up Librarian and my love for my hometown of St. Petersburg. Thanks to <i><a href="http://cltampa.com/artbreaker/archives/2014/03/14/stand-up-librarian-brings-her-act-to-the-florida-antiquarian-book-fair#.U0yfzyiQvs5">Creative Loafing</a>, <a href="http://www.tbnweekly.com/editorial/local_entertainment/festivals/content_articles/031214_lefest-09.txt">Tampa Bay Newspapers</a></i>, and <i><a href="http://www.articulatesuncoast.com/blogs/performing-arts/8-performing-arts/596-five-questions-with-meredith-myers-the-stand-up-librarian">Articulate Creative Pinellas</a></i> for those wonderfully written articles. You can read those pieces on my press page <a href="http://www.standuplibrarian.com/p/press.html">here</a>.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Performing a medley of my literary parody songs <br />on the front steps of The Coliseum.</i></td></tr>
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However, what I was most thrilled about was being an actual vendor at the fair selling my literary fashions! I sold my first literary purse there in 2012 thanks to a wonderful woman named Edie, and I would not be still making these if it wasn't for her encouragement and support. Thank you Edie!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>With Edie in 2014. She bought my first literary purse<br />in 2012 & still uses it: a cats & books fanny pack!<br />This year I gave her a messenger bag.</i></span></i></td></tr>
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It was also a family affair at the book fair with my parents, brother, aunt and uncle helping me at my booth. Plus, just a few days before the fair, I decided to make literary bow ties and while I knew how to sew them, it was my dad who was able to actually tie them! So thank you Dad and to all of the people who bought them. I sold out the first night!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWhC4pNH-VE0R_EQVxAexN3ABrMW8HzwCKUY1GFlQ6G_jHQEpPJDFkWK-M7LK-NZDRsXe-Wzu93rqO_OT5epfYcaih274wi6yQ4k1kvBHaqIV8reZ0X0HX-r3ThV8UqUSFjfCIA/s1600/IMG_0737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWhC4pNH-VE0R_EQVxAexN3ABrMW8HzwCKUY1GFlQ6G_jHQEpPJDFkWK-M7LK-NZDRsXe-Wzu93rqO_OT5epfYcaih274wi6yQ4k1kvBHaqIV8reZ0X0HX-r3ThV8UqUSFjfCIA/s1600/IMG_0737.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>With my parents at my booth on the opening night <br />of the book fair. Bow ties all around! </i></td></tr>
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There were so many wonderful people that I met over those three days from vendors and booksellers to miniature book collectors and aspiring librarians. It makes me very happy to see so many different types of people come together to promote literacy and the preservation of our books. Thanks again to everybody that bought items from <a href="http://www.standuplibrariandesigns.com/">Stand-Up Librarian Designs</a> or just stopped by to stay hello. I am so grateful. See you next year! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Thanks to John who bought my first bow tie...<br />before the fair even opened!</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc2cJxaIQXkBtut47oEh3E8T8PJMPRGLQGONTtKU5SJvPgQu8Y6zSS8TqThK-uSlnDUMXwesXQso50te3BaPsWvYP9EqxWzBUKuY1KXhLRkMWL47-T4gUQNXAA5-vqgKG5fm-Krg/s1600/IMG_0791.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc2cJxaIQXkBtut47oEh3E8T8PJMPRGLQGONTtKU5SJvPgQu8Y6zSS8TqThK-uSlnDUMXwesXQso50te3BaPsWvYP9EqxWzBUKuY1KXhLRkMWL47-T4gUQNXAA5-vqgKG5fm-Krg/s1600/IMG_0791.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>With Ian Kahn from Lux Mentis - a bookseller in a kilt <br />is a great friend for a librarian in a book skirt!</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHKZ4x3ULUqd1RzaMIf6ekYoRxHdKKClPeSnvajSB7pkwr6wEgHADAyAT8CVJtbgd_lmj-eo4RtZsNShyaZAnAWIYPxAv3CaTlknwz7xvdSEmRuVK51pfPVCoPHIvIf6nrgk8PQ/s1600/IMG_0815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHKZ4x3ULUqd1RzaMIf6ekYoRxHdKKClPeSnvajSB7pkwr6wEgHADAyAT8CVJtbgd_lmj-eo4RtZsNShyaZAnAWIYPxAv3CaTlknwz7xvdSEmRuVK51pfPVCoPHIvIf6nrgk8PQ/s1600/IMG_0815.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Future librarians!</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sisters Kathy and Deborah almost cleaned out my booth.<br />Thank you ladies!!!!!</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Coliseum filled with book lovers. Perfection!</i></td></tr>
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Meredith Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07008769783024686195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21712213.post-89494138320820366862014-03-12T10:48:00.001-05:002014-03-12T10:48:52.095-05:00Interview w Larry the Cable Guy, The Dali Museum, Bow Ties & Performance at Book Fair!We are only 2 days away from <a href="http://floridabooksellers.com/bookfair.php">The 33rd Annual Antiquarian Book Fair</a> and I have saved my best interviews for last...more on those in a minute. <br />
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First, I wanted to announce that I will be performing my literary parody songs on the steps of <a href="http://www.stpete.org/coliseum/">The Coliseum</a> to open the book fair at 5pm on Friday night so get there early if you have ever wanted to see a librarian dance on a book cart singing about books! To see some of my literary music videos, visit my You Tube Channel <a href="http://www.youtube.com/StandUpLibrarian">here</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7VqcxZd0KVR2bl7PnTDP4NUiFZPvnWuEit2LfRGWP6J3wKcCPIR1gsYfAHKaDcOB9IVi8AkZnXOSbX8PxVT9ArzNJNjfXvZUJ-PO2gCa1jttULIvS9eM6zoaYZN_F8NDD2OYtQ/s1600/ARTPool+Raven+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7VqcxZd0KVR2bl7PnTDP4NUiFZPvnWuEit2LfRGWP6J3wKcCPIR1gsYfAHKaDcOB9IVi8AkZnXOSbX8PxVT9ArzNJNjfXvZUJ-PO2gCa1jttULIvS9eM6zoaYZN_F8NDD2OYtQ/s1600/ARTPool+Raven+1.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"THE RAVEN is Hard to Handle"/<br />Edgar Allan Poe tribute</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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Secondly, to honor my first literary purse sale two years ago at the book fair, I will be debuting my first literary fashion accessory for men: book-print bow ties! But let's be honest, ladies can rock these bow ties too, so stop by my <a href="http://www.standuplibrariandesigns.com/">Stand-Up Librarian Designs</a> booth (#96, near the food area) to say hi and be one of the very first to own one!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifCnaQnhuCyHS9u6KJ7mJ0GOQxrU3Wr1ZZ_tUnC-G899MxQp3jVhL9SEhUlJJ35ljkVF1KPsjuqWIPwS6MP2gw3vnlyHDR5X_14R1ia-jEL-DUnP3wUjQDA71GCN2PGOgVfxGrnw/s1600/Book+BowTie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifCnaQnhuCyHS9u6KJ7mJ0GOQxrU3Wr1ZZ_tUnC-G899MxQp3jVhL9SEhUlJJ35ljkVF1KPsjuqWIPwS6MP2gw3vnlyHDR5X_14R1ia-jEL-DUnP3wUjQDA71GCN2PGOgVfxGrnw/s1600/Book+BowTie.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Book-print bow ties will make their <br />debut at the book fair!</i></td></tr>
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Finally, for my last two video interviews, I went to the two places I love the most: the library and the comedy stage. It was in the mid-nineties that I met a funny guy named "Larry" in Sanford, FL who inspired me to want to try stand-up comedy. Over 15 years later, <a href="http://www.larrythecableguy.com/">Larry the Cable Guy</a> is insanely famous yet he continues to make time for me to discuss jokes, the industry, and yes, the importance of reading! I also went to <a href="http://thedali.org/">The Dali Museum</a> Library where I spent a majority of 2013 as a volunteer librarian cataloguing the entire collection. Volunteers are such an important part of museums and libraries across the country so I wanted to speak with Pam Whiteaker (who leads that charge for <a href="http://thedali.org/">The Dali</a>) about how others can <a href="http://thedali.org/about_the_museum/get_involved.php">get involved</a> with serving their community.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">For a direct link to my interview with Larry the Cable Guy, click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-lkuheZ5M0&list=UUhWMGR-Q5yFZmoFizJxewrA">here</a>.</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">For a direct link to my interview with Pam at The Dali Museum, click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNci4uiXHy8&list=FLhWMGR-Q5yFZmoFizJxewrA&index=2">here</a>.</span></i></span></div>
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Thanks to <a href="http://www.larrythecableguy.com/">Larry the Cable Guy</a>, Pam Whiteaker, and most importantly, to Sarah Smith and Allan Smith of the <a href="http://floridabooksellers.com/bookfair.php">Florida Antiquarian Book Fair</a> who got me involved as the spokesperson this year. Allan and I had a blast running around St. Petersburg meeting so many book lovers and talking with them about the book fair. To see more of our videos, please visit the Book Fair You Tube channel <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/FloridaBookFair">here</a>. </div>
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I hope everybody comes out to the book fair this weekend - we are going to have so much fun!!!</div>
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Florida Antiquariam Book Fair</div>
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March 14 - 16, 2014</div>
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The Coliseum</div>
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535 Fourth Avenue North</div>
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St. Petersburg, FL</div>
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Friday: 5 - 9 pm ($10 for 3-day pass)</div>
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Saturday: 10 - 5 pm ($6 daily admission)</div>
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Sunday: 11 - 4 pm ($6 daily admission)</div>
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Free admission for children under 12 and students with ID.</div>
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Free parking.</div>
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<i>*Proceeds from ticket sales support The St. Petersburg Public Library</i></div>
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<br />Meredith Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07008769783024686195noreply@blogger.com