Halloween!

"Trick-or-Treat! Trick-or-Treat! Give me something good to eat!"

As a child, one of the many days I'm sure all of us looked forward to (aside from Christmas) was Halloween. It was the one day out of the year we could dress up, run amuck, and eat candy until we bled chocolate. Well my friends, that day is today. Halloween day.

And where might you ask am I on this fantastical day? Well the library of course, on the second floor balcony, over looking the parking lot. But don't be down, I have a wonderful view. One of the many great aspects about the University of Portland is its involvement with the St. John's community. Every year, UP invites families to bring their children to trick-or-treat in the dorms, providing a safe, fun environment on Halloween. Sitting in this spot, I have a great view of all of the families and their "G-Hosts" escorting the kids to the varying dorms. I've seen all kinds of costumes, from iron man, to Cinderella, to adorable pumpkins, and the faces of the children remind me of the excitement I felt at that age on this evening.

However, I then see the kinds of outfits college students, especially females, wear on halloween, and the first thing to pop into my head is the quote from mean girls:

"In girl world, Halloween is the one night a year when a girl can dress like a total slut and no other girls can say anything about it. The hard-core girls just wear lingerie and some form of animal ears."

Now, this is is not to say I disapprove of the outfit choices because judging only seems to make matters worse, I just feel some have lost the real fun of dressing up for Halloween.

So! I propose the question:

What was your favorite costume as a child?

Mine was my first grade year. My mom made me the best unicorn costume I could have asked for. She was really into making our costumes and I appreciate her deeply, even if the butt she made me hung over the chair by about 2 feet.

Hope you are all staying safe, making good choices, and most of all, having a great Halloween!

Own it!

Madison Blake

Welcome to the Balcony

As a longtime library adventures follower, the lack of posts has truly decreased the amount of joy in my usual internet rounds.. So, I have decided to post, and post well, and post consistently. This blog will be transformed into an electronic medium in which lives will be changed. If this blog truly is life changing, I will be surprised, but I hope that our posts will be a welcome study break to our followers and hopefully it allows you to chuckle or giggle, whatever your preference.

I will not be able to do this alone, so my awesome friend Madison Blake and I will be rocking this blog all year long. We will be doing our thing and communicating the happens of the library, uploading sweet pics, and hopefully have an awesome time in the mecca of learning on the University of Portland campus.

Rick and Tarra, thanks for your work last year, it was awesome, and I hope that we can carry the torch to bigger and better heights!

So friends, welcome to the second half of first semester, its going to be a busy one... I hope that you will enjoy the revival of the blog and that you will come and visit Madison and I on the second floor balcony looking at the parking lot. And if you come up to the second floor and we aren't there, save seats, because we will probably be there soon.

Keep it real. Own it. Choose Love. For Days.

Peace and Love,

Zack

This Day in HISTORY...

In 1842, the Croton Reservoir opened on the corner of 42nd Street and 5th Avenue, the location of the New York Public Library. 

Yeah I know the reservoir really has nothing to do with the library now, but hey! It's still in the same location. Can you believe that?  Instead of a library, there was a fortress of stored water. Hmm...interesting!

Since I'm here talking about the New York Public Library, let me show you the room that I'm in.  It's pretty fantastic! :)

It's pretty, but it makes me wonder where all the other books are.  Also, I was looking at some older pictures of this room, and the chairs and tables are set up the exact same way they were done in the 1920s. The furniture even looked the same. I don't know if the furniture is from the 1920s but what if it is?!

Leaving this room, there is a great mural on the ceiling. You'd think we were in the Sistine Chapel or something. But no...it's just a library! ;)

Er...I think I might have taken the picture upside down. Sorry about that.

I miss going to the library to apply for jobs and such because I'm so busy going to work and doing my internship, but at least I have a job now, right?  I'm definitely going to try to stop by to continue the job search!

Well, hope you're all doing well!  I know this blog hasn't been kept updated regularly, but there might be some crazy changes in the next couple weeks. You never know as we venture past our first 100 posts.

GOOD LUCK with midterms and have a FANTASTIC fall break! :)