The 2021 Awards for the Best Books of 2020

 Yay - the ALA Youth Media Award list is now up on the ALA website.  

I"m printing it out so I can reserve all the winners from my libraries. 

(I have access to two library systems, so - off I go.)

Taking walks these days

 I often used to take my mile walk at a local large (outdoor) shopping center. (most of them are outdoor, not inside buildings, in southern California) 

About a year ago I noticed Asian people wearing masks while the rest of us didn't. At first I felt sorry for them thinking that they were ill or immune compromised and needed to protect themselves. In a month or two I changed my feelings about this and thought they were smart to wear masks and a month or two after that I too was wearing a mask when I took that walk there.  

However, I haven't even thought of walking there since October -- too many people. I now walk in my quiet, suburban neighborhood where there are few cars and when other people approach me, on their own walks, I simply move out into the road so that we can pass safely.

Exploring the Capitol Building in Washington, DC

 Watching the invasion of the Capitol building today by the insurrectionists attempting a coup, I was reminded of the time when my children and I explored the place.

It used to be that anyone could just walk into the Capitol, and if you looked like you knew what you were doing, nobody would question you. 

In the late 1980s I took two elementary (or middle school children, I forget which) with me, but nobody bothered us. We wandered around the first floor, then I wanted to take the kids up to the peanut gallery where average people could watch the proceedings. So we found an elevator. But someone pushed the basement button. So when the door opened there, we decided to explore. So interesting. Pipes hanging from the ceiling. Lots of grey paint. Some doors to offices were open and we saw people having discussions. We must have walked the full length of the Capitol before someone came out of an office and asked us what we were doing. I replied, oh so innocently, that we were looking for where the kids could overlook Congress, so he directed us to an elevator and punched the number for the correct floor for us. More wandering (more offices) until we finally arrived at the balcony overlooking one of the houses of Congress. Which was not in session at the time. darn.  

Now, of course, there are all sorts of examination points you have to pass and they'll probably direct you to a tour guide.

Happy New Year 2121