tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-234698764103417822024-03-04T21:06:30.471-08:00Where'd Henry Go?Hankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00490598895232528728noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23469876410341782.post-28857903845558115412011-03-16T22:17:00.000-07:002011-03-16T22:44:37.071-07:00The romantic aura of the artistic recluseSince my last post, I got my grad school diploma, managed to get hired as a full time children's librarian, and moved back to America. More on those things later.<br /><br />Here now are some images from the Driving Creek Railway, located in the Coromandel Penninsula home and studio grounds of Barry Brickell. He uses the clay to make his pottery. He built a small 15" railroad, himself, to transport clay out of the hills, and to move the finished pottery around. Check him out!<br /><br /><!-- Start NZ On Screen - Barry Brickell: Potter (clip 1) size is 410px by 358px --><br /><object height="358" width="410"><br /><param name="movie" value="http://www.nzonscreen.com/nzonscreen-player.swf"><br /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><br /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><br /><param name="flashvars" value="c=911&v=197"><br /><embed src="http://www.nzonscreen.com/nzonscreen-player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="c=911&v=197" height="358" width="410"></embed><br /></object><br /><!-- End NZ On Screen - Barry Brickell: Potter (clip 1) --><br />Even though he only needs to go about 200m into the property to get the clay, he continued building the railway.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBgpK7z5jzUrYqEY_lZsjytLP6L1DargKAZEPT7yPxe-UllB4pFI4ApRmLLsz_tONakJZWM5tGP2MC-GnRPA-PjHmgApYZBo2wxogq9MHNCsud9Edm_LFuA2eUA6JK00mPU54GPidn8cM/s1600/0228011351.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBgpK7z5jzUrYqEY_lZsjytLP6L1DargKAZEPT7yPxe-UllB4pFI4ApRmLLsz_tONakJZWM5tGP2MC-GnRPA-PjHmgApYZBo2wxogq9MHNCsud9Edm_LFuA2eUA6JK00mPU54GPidn8cM/s320/0228011351.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584915497018058114" border="0" /></a><br />He built bridges over gullies, including this double decker,<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8uK1n3DfKsI0Ge0Sy5ikRE8f4xr912Mffi1lrdwZbM4Yxu8mCwqC1npXZ-Ac9yyBfo7KN3giDAy-8AH_mgDtwC3zQGxksP1wQ57CIN4gm54e6RtKxUQWeOGGP-MWRRTG-zSp_-ukoGMw/s1600/0228011413.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 263px; height: 350px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8uK1n3DfKsI0Ge0Sy5ikRE8f4xr912Mffi1lrdwZbM4Yxu8mCwqC1npXZ-Ac9yyBfo7KN3giDAy-8AH_mgDtwC3zQGxksP1wQ57CIN4gm54e6RtKxUQWeOGGP-MWRRTG-zSp_-ukoGMw/s320/0228011413.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584919328302343042" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXJA4U1eO4Z_wzw0LL12dFGCLmaZBt137sTc0zZUNbsvYbQ4wK0zHTPwzVKgjQqmOUV0XZc91DQ1fZ5C_jm54wvOuKaWGuY5qNCCi7lEn5OLWznT_K_-OQvt4Ehyphenhyphenk2FWNqBjf9IIFazQ/s1600/0228011506.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXJA4U1eO4Z_wzw0LL12dFGCLmaZBt137sTc0zZUNbsvYbQ4wK0zHTPwzVKgjQqmOUV0XZc91DQ1fZ5C_jm54wvOuKaWGuY5qNCCi7lEn5OLWznT_K_-OQvt4Ehyphenhyphenk2FWNqBjf9IIFazQ/s320/0228011506.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584919335777563154" border="0" /></a><br />tunnels through hills,<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCDEQRSSTo7bPbwcU0OB5mSZG0zbdKhln94UdHLcoHnOCdllZaIrKlv20AxGaYKW-ZpCmueEInaABB7ICS2A-QfXWrBU97VEhw6j30IglYxagxxQSzkzFAN8wsONOnjr5cshJMMQhkwE/s1600/0228011420.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCDEQRSSTo7bPbwcU0OB5mSZG0zbdKhln94UdHLcoHnOCdllZaIrKlv20AxGaYKW-ZpCmueEInaABB7ICS2A-QfXWrBU97VEhw6j30IglYxagxxQSzkzFAN8wsONOnjr5cshJMMQhkwE/s320/0228011420.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584915504486038002" border="0" /></a><br />and used a clever system of switchbacks to climb the hills. Then he lined the hills with sculptures.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSag15QO_5trL6WPG0kEmZiRIBdAxA5T2w29BfTRFeccpX4JHkYsuluO_FO_d6qgJB4BnNOsUGUhZXuJFB_pMAaX1axzwGzR4A9meLsnyPUM6VUWds-QPd3bMz61G_K3W1ZAntqHSVFe8/s1600/0228011350.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSag15QO_5trL6WPG0kEmZiRIBdAxA5T2w29BfTRFeccpX4JHkYsuluO_FO_d6qgJB4BnNOsUGUhZXuJFB_pMAaX1axzwGzR4A9meLsnyPUM6VUWds-QPd3bMz61G_K3W1ZAntqHSVFe8/s320/0228011350.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584915489744512562" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1QaDfJ9LA9_I4e697Bm4UGRLyyWSY1gVsL66GBseQ5izH2eX1V2q28ip490rv5EVfxzFTfzxaB_MwvOjLLgXbSWVLaHw6j8ga8LAzhy8Tk4j5iPQRsV8-j3IOpcTNB2yzlF71xzoUOH4/s1600/0228011421.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 358px; height: 477px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1QaDfJ9LA9_I4e697Bm4UGRLyyWSY1gVsL66GBseQ5izH2eX1V2q28ip490rv5EVfxzFTfzxaB_MwvOjLLgXbSWVLaHw6j8ga8LAzhy8Tk4j5iPQRsV8-j3IOpcTNB2yzlF71xzoUOH4/s320/0228011421.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584915520330740402" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygsDRpGxsP2FG3LzNCH8hw9kPAkBLUY1rMgtbQZZsxfOLdGCQcnQcrzVY7vKYahRybm-lnc4vmhRTlYcAThGbgtv0cotpkFzKyuy2n0UzpKucw0p6-X1EjBar1xhxUfexGXUPx7DOW-Y/s1600/0228011453.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 372px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygsDRpGxsP2FG3LzNCH8hw9kPAkBLUY1rMgtbQZZsxfOLdGCQcnQcrzVY7vKYahRybm-lnc4vmhRTlYcAThGbgtv0cotpkFzKyuy2n0UzpKucw0p6-X1EjBar1xhxUfexGXUPx7DOW-Y/s320/0228011453.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584920494587776930" border="0" /></a>Hankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00490598895232528728noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23469876410341782.post-10377404648908536462011-02-25T14:42:00.001-08:002011-02-25T14:54:12.620-08:00Danger Danger DangerAotea Island signs are full of helpful warnings about how to deal with hazardous situations:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqtoVUgi_uN3JpA_qLdSgPP1Q4IUztWiREjmf-m-2KenDTv4kh9ZNxHueOYb_ar8yS8zzhbXD8FIRT9IS-PmX_0z0e0gwT0_3WtP0d4cgtVwZpzlr0iXNJIHU5WUWy4vCsyrEPXgx-OQ/s1600/0222011000.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqtoVUgi_uN3JpA_qLdSgPP1Q4IUztWiREjmf-m-2KenDTv4kh9ZNxHueOYb_ar8yS8zzhbXD8FIRT9IS-PmX_0z0e0gwT0_3WtP0d4cgtVwZpzlr0iXNJIHU5WUWy4vCsyrEPXgx-OQ/s320/0222011000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577762373459741186" border="0" /></a>Do not put your head underwater in the hot springs. The impulse to do so is strong, definitely, but only in a morbid kind of way. Like when you are driving and you have the notion to put your head in the steering wheel. Why do humans have these thoughts? I don't know.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxuaKtxUVu1HKK06WFXxH8TmUejkCFX1sPI0N6cNLq3SO6KlT4VI_rJ_khXM3klUPkHFsCUYUbj5d-netK1bYgy01xzkE5Qkd_qDIe8gw5Ig1Wy0OvHkl_pBXiF3T_rgfrpYZOl5y-F14/s1600/0221011253.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxuaKtxUVu1HKK06WFXxH8TmUejkCFX1sPI0N6cNLq3SO6KlT4VI_rJ_khXM3klUPkHFsCUYUbj5d-netK1bYgy01xzkE5Qkd_qDIe8gw5Ig1Wy0OvHkl_pBXiF3T_rgfrpYZOl5y-F14/s320/0221011253.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577762370114504706" border="0" /></a>I hated color-coded fear in America, and I'm sad it has made it to New Zealand. I thought about burning this sign down in a neatly ironic protest.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdA8y1Jd3zlQ2mw-cU5q5ZgOyf1nhyphenhyphenS1v87Qj7xggYu9-Uni7XhBGtpyCmqiQFOWVmxSE_EvKxQfSDF2pFRXIZ6-ipS_cRazUSEEAGf0LcGjCnr09kiosfiju0UqEW7UXhXDL-Kc52PAE/s1600/0220010847.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdA8y1Jd3zlQ2mw-cU5q5ZgOyf1nhyphenhyphenS1v87Qj7xggYu9-Uni7XhBGtpyCmqiQFOWVmxSE_EvKxQfSDF2pFRXIZ6-ipS_cRazUSEEAGf0LcGjCnr09kiosfiju0UqEW7UXhXDL-Kc52PAE/s320/0220010847.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577762369453431458" border="0" /></a><br />My favorite danger sign was really just warning me about how much I would enjoy crossing this deep gully on a swing bridge made out of metal and chainlink, Indiana Jones style.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7txUwzfb-KBuTEjw_dUilYnHyqOvDreNFxYTB2Vv3puBpCUIA-Sbjon7ZzJj55W-9FhvpoSEtCQVye7eGRgtAoaIL3Zk_SGVF1bAwgtQ0FKapi_xNjcTlq6qXcDdLf_G9laZyQ3d10sY/s1600/0219011513.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7txUwzfb-KBuTEjw_dUilYnHyqOvDreNFxYTB2Vv3puBpCUIA-Sbjon7ZzJj55W-9FhvpoSEtCQVye7eGRgtAoaIL3Zk_SGVF1bAwgtQ0FKapi_xNjcTlq6qXcDdLf_G9laZyQ3d10sY/s320/0219011513.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577762365400170130" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Aotea Island is a dangerous place but, like most danger, only if you bother to read. What, me worry?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8H7VmNz8-KdjYGBpC91SWFHarjkWC_W1nTVf6BshiDzMO80m5NScRmApiDAQI-G-e4LeppdQ4JWAyhnB5M_ieyGvBBENUmSnji_Hce04hrcpY2l9okwU6kW6Zk3LSp-B1X2_FxQJYjM0/s1600/0218011739.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8H7VmNz8-KdjYGBpC91SWFHarjkWC_W1nTVf6BshiDzMO80m5NScRmApiDAQI-G-e4LeppdQ4JWAyhnB5M_ieyGvBBENUmSnji_Hce04hrcpY2l9okwU6kW6Zk3LSp-B1X2_FxQJYjM0/s320/0218011739.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577762359145245122" border="0" /></a>Hankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00490598895232528728noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23469876410341782.post-28916868502514010482011-02-24T17:28:00.000-08:002011-02-24T17:28:00.765-08:00Go NorthNorth of Auckland, about four and a half hours by boat, is a fantastic island called Aotea, aka Great Barrier Island. A mere 600 people live in this paradise of rocky mountains, forested valleys, naturals hot springs and cool, wide beaches. I got off the ferry at Tryphena harbor where I got a ride up to where I started hiking. Jill (or Gell) the van driver had lived on the island for 12 years. When I told her how fresh it felt, so free of electric lights or pollution in the air she said "Well, sometimes the dust can be a problem." I found it hard to agree with this being a problem.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAn8zl0FUZbeq7WhJ4W_2kOE9hWJ1t5OmmoDF_wkgyT2ROJ0P1KYAw1JUFozsLf8Ea947-9U_aJ3gix2VuIc3Vn5juns82l1CB8tAJoLCq-r6Kj7gFFagb7EXDD_InBvx2AW7LaSBRGZs/s1600/0218011749.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 374px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAn8zl0FUZbeq7WhJ4W_2kOE9hWJ1t5OmmoDF_wkgyT2ROJ0P1KYAw1JUFozsLf8Ea947-9U_aJ3gix2VuIc3Vn5juns82l1CB8tAJoLCq-r6Kj7gFFagb7EXDD_InBvx2AW7LaSBRGZs/s320/0218011749.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576693517190349346" border="0" /></a><br />Quite a lot to see from the precipices of the coastal track along the east coast. Looking here at Rakitu (Arid) Island from Aotea.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNua1M2K8kRJMYoovITYsX0D4JaVYSh7u14hUBFyZG_zDlN4ntDRH_xcC3_aB_2QmKMoOuNR6Wmqv1Ea_OVfVGsk4O4s2UMRHpuHZ6zI99aPDPL0SXHK28H_gh6uZeh25lO7jbLvPlF9w/s1600/0218011640a.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNua1M2K8kRJMYoovITYsX0D4JaVYSh7u14hUBFyZG_zDlN4ntDRH_xcC3_aB_2QmKMoOuNR6Wmqv1Ea_OVfVGsk4O4s2UMRHpuHZ6zI99aPDPL0SXHK28H_gh6uZeh25lO7jbLvPlF9w/s320/0218011640a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576693514431501618" border="0" /></a><br />The forest has trees that grow at all levels, and it would seem at different levels of sunlight. This makes it really dense, and muggy when it's wet.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCrI-F-oxdfvaitOlHR8FRpWqfldsEPZxRo_P52Yyclr8Tf-EkmUtgTeAyMeUkYuf6lA4j5kSi65VN9R92iX82WaztQ8aV6lvuKztKTlzvO8X20y_8tDpu84zGVCyNBIQdZ-kLMNmG_oY/s1600/0218011833a.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCrI-F-oxdfvaitOlHR8FRpWqfldsEPZxRo_P52Yyclr8Tf-EkmUtgTeAyMeUkYuf6lA4j5kSi65VN9R92iX82WaztQ8aV6lvuKztKTlzvO8X20y_8tDpu84zGVCyNBIQdZ-kLMNmG_oY/s320/0218011833a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576693523552650002" border="0" /></a><br />Have you ever camped close to cows? It's scary. Quit lookin' at me, cow.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM18WytJzzeFYronhFnyt0ww4jea0ehaAfGuTnQIXdlckhd2iuIpvxxA2iL7KXNkiKGUEbXHwb8w88-xW3q_Xw2UAZMBWZnUXQVXquLjmgGkJZ98YmVphAu1U5-h8d0FnOYQYirb0KXJQ/s1600/0218011952.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM18WytJzzeFYronhFnyt0ww4jea0ehaAfGuTnQIXdlckhd2iuIpvxxA2iL7KXNkiKGUEbXHwb8w88-xW3q_Xw2UAZMBWZnUXQVXquLjmgGkJZ98YmVphAu1U5-h8d0FnOYQYirb0KXJQ/s320/0218011952.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576693527122840226" border="0" /></a><br />From the front door (only door, really) of my tent Thursday night.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQVSbqUlLD2SykNg5SphjiySi-YKBpXAP4jnHYWEEXQC_fSpJv9zy0TwO9NGttciLWx4ayrWWJBSJpbGUPEFNnMCSz-jw_4xkeXRHItWMcQ4NttMxMBk4tjBQsj8PY1NkmaELdoZXF634/s1600/0218012009.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 394px; height: 295px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQVSbqUlLD2SykNg5SphjiySi-YKBpXAP4jnHYWEEXQC_fSpJv9zy0TwO9NGttciLWx4ayrWWJBSJpbGUPEFNnMCSz-jw_4xkeXRHItWMcQ4NttMxMBk4tjBQsj8PY1NkmaELdoZXF634/s320/0218012009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576693535042103378" border="0" /></a>Hankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00490598895232528728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23469876410341782.post-71348706347598530562011-02-22T15:56:00.000-08:002011-02-22T17:12:56.228-08:00Finding Aotea - we interrupt this broadcast -<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjziaVCyvjPviBiCYyRs2Alfn1b9H7HNVHqIg-XB2j9J6vdmuxDKPUPAksBFZlbGv4Wkh7q-wItfbgjxdkR9vddJ-qZqZ7U95hYVXZ2bijAIlP-JIJ_S-AeP5pzI17J1O9asb95cip3KTI/s1600/4689772_600x400.jpg"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjziaVCyvjPviBiCYyRs2Alfn1b9H7HNVHqIg-XB2j9J6vdmuxDKPUPAksBFZlbGv4Wkh7q-wItfbgjxdkR9vddJ-qZqZ7U95hYVXZ2bijAIlP-JIJ_S-AeP5pzI17J1O9asb95cip3KTI/s320/4689772_600x400.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576686098476769058" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">image from stuff.co.nz</span><br /></div><br />So much going on today that it's hard to know where to start. Yesterday, a huge earthquake hit Christchurch. It was a 6.3 which was not as strong as last September's 7.something, but it was much closer to the surface (only 7 km deep compared to 33km). This, and the fact that the city was already weakened, meant that it was much more deadly and costly. <a href="http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10708163">Get updates</a> and <a href="http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/image.cfm?c_id=1&gal_objectid=10708163&gallery_id=116927#7381525">see pictures</a> in the New Zealand Herald online. And if you feel generous, you can <a href="http://www.salvationarmy.org.nz/">donate</a> by specifying the Canterbury Earthquake Appeal (which the <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/02/22/us.obama.new.zealand/">U.S. is supporting with an urban search and rescue team)</a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"> </span>in addition to scores from other countries.<br /><br />This disaster is devastating. 80% of New Zealand's second largest city is without water, and a significant portion, at least half, is without power. The city has been closed for what will probably be the week, with schools being turned into emergency shelter and distribution centers. In a show of kiwi spirit, the mayor has arranged for emergency cash distribution since all the ATMs are not working. I find this trusting and rational response very heartening, even though it is being made with a huge amount of grief and sorrow.<br /><br />I'm safe and everyone I know in Christchurch is safe. I was going to blog about my recent trip to Aotea (Great Barrier) Island, accounting for why I was even further away from Christchurch than I normally am, but I'll save it for the next post.Hankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00490598895232528728noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23469876410341782.post-81021392586714113132011-02-14T12:22:00.000-08:002011-02-16T15:14:45.693-08:00Piha Gorge-ous<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCD36QzRkXGDZl-Q_xEIYa9Zds7rC9RZcl0H7fZU7KM4OjxLDHp4qnW0gN0QXs-ShMRFVLIFwIqbx0WkI5XV2Tzutu_d7fq98T8MOgZX6REx7CqoJ57-Cb_0dy0KoOzqO1FynwWsnXF-o/s1600/0108011823.jpg"><br /></a><br />After a night out exploring the cultural delights of Auckland, Coop and I heroically got up early and went with the friendly and intrepid Auckland Hiking group I found through meetup.com. The group headed to the Waitakere Ranges, a large area of native bush just a 45 minute drive west of Auckland.<br /><br />This was not an ordinary hike. Here's what the "trail" looked like:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ8h-9z61DrAJYkNwItYGzHaMsUH4THg4RlqDZ-6tAyDh4sNsjmv_cRMMF39RER6ORNCxxUmH7gO5EnkLh-5tZRsmu78ESMjHR2SwR0Vr98oFHGpxdXfN68da9bVTA3QzFMIl2gtYfYrI/s1600/piha9.jpeg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ8h-9z61DrAJYkNwItYGzHaMsUH4THg4RlqDZ-6tAyDh4sNsjmv_cRMMF39RER6ORNCxxUmH7gO5EnkLh-5tZRsmu78ESMjHR2SwR0Vr98oFHGpxdXfN68da9bVTA3QzFMIl2gtYfYrI/s320/piha9.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574426585606517090" border="0" /></a><br />A stream hike. Incredible! Usually when I come to a stream, I try to figure out how to avoid getting wet. But on this hike, that was out the window from the beginning. Here I am, in the middle, being ungainly, and Coop getting ready to watch me fall in:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYvNaF-ak1vrW2NGTU1s9cKC5rU5iLnWFEOblcx2Qg84dFqh4a7EPCKOIiIOErNlGzPp07PzX9bp5ioTGe5CNKsiYCxR6Pf_Cav6gRvSRbmQY9m1z-2F3pGjcNxpMkF5yBCj2OxxyINjs/s1600/piha4.jpeg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYvNaF-ak1vrW2NGTU1s9cKC5rU5iLnWFEOblcx2Qg84dFqh4a7EPCKOIiIOErNlGzPp07PzX9bp5ioTGe5CNKsiYCxR6Pf_Cav6gRvSRbmQY9m1z-2F3pGjcNxpMkF5yBCj2OxxyINjs/s320/piha4.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574426593507803106" border="0" /></a>Pretty quickly I decided that I didn't mind going under. In fact, at some points it was necessary to swim short distances<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiDgUXBhVGsOhPJDdYVzmb-JgCgJN8SzRm_j9rMN-W-d5jjyJ2J2v0ZYkIlwkIwPTF4imLjr4OxgU28qkS8vaev3S3HPima1dJhBd9Q5bWx_Q8oa3a2XFzH6ZDd3gNEzXHDlVzb-Ttnh8/s1600/piha1.jpeg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiDgUXBhVGsOhPJDdYVzmb-JgCgJN8SzRm_j9rMN-W-d5jjyJ2J2v0ZYkIlwkIwPTF4imLjr4OxgU28qkS8vaev3S3HPima1dJhBd9Q5bWx_Q8oa3a2XFzH6ZDd3gNEzXHDlVzb-Ttnh8/s320/piha1.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574426595800640498" border="0" /></a><br />After a long and exhausting but incredible swim-hike, we took a break and went to nearby Piha beach. This beach is fantastic because it is so long and wide open, but surrounded by cliffs. The main beach spreads out around Lion Rock, that large one in the middle.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCD36QzRkXGDZl-Q_xEIYa9Zds7rC9RZcl0H7fZU7KM4OjxLDHp4qnW0gN0QXs-ShMRFVLIFwIqbx0WkI5XV2Tzutu_d7fq98T8MOgZX6REx7CqoJ57-Cb_0dy0KoOzqO1FynwWsnXF-o/s1600/0108011823.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCD36QzRkXGDZl-Q_xEIYa9Zds7rC9RZcl0H7fZU7KM4OjxLDHp4qnW0gN0QXs-ShMRFVLIFwIqbx0WkI5XV2Tzutu_d7fq98T8MOgZX6REx7CqoJ57-Cb_0dy0KoOzqO1FynwWsnXF-o/s320/0108011823.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574428805903746498" border="0" /></a><br />and to south, a lagoon has been carved out<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpg5dqMM6n8feuphRaqA2AiBqwqCN88Ml9xq3mUi7Pg7CQ3WPlS5nm-US6PbCt7WbF9tA5DuRyWqya5_F3rU7Wgmh09xP9rRYczskd7NC3MO9jg6Z06cmYV4WLvdvesMezr4u6OZn5RF8/s1600/0206011619.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 77px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpg5dqMM6n8feuphRaqA2AiBqwqCN88Ml9xq3mUi7Pg7CQ3WPlS5nm-US6PbCt7WbF9tA5DuRyWqya5_F3rU7Wgmh09xP9rRYczskd7NC3MO9jg6Z06cmYV4WLvdvesMezr4u6OZn5RF8/s320/0206011619.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574426609565836162" border="0" /></a><br />but it's still connected in places, like this sea tunnel<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC2ktR-Ol9JQd_HFxawAw71k_4fcTQNsttnm7aZpuOhyphenhyphenfrCc2c9huXF08DcsJC-k9c0zLDH-GrWEjSO4OQ2gwQudOo0DDUa4RL-gn-XTtbmmgUXQuQJ6mtzaipqSwCIGQO3FRNOKNZwqc/s1600/piha2.jpeg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 233px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC2ktR-Ol9JQd_HFxawAw71k_4fcTQNsttnm7aZpuOhyphenhyphenfrCc2c9huXF08DcsJC-k9c0zLDH-GrWEjSO4OQ2gwQudOo0DDUa4RL-gn-XTtbmmgUXQuQJ6mtzaipqSwCIGQO3FRNOKNZwqc/s320/piha2.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574426612492003154" border="0" /></a>Hankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00490598895232528728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23469876410341782.post-31098857124563173772011-02-13T19:34:00.001-08:002011-02-14T12:14:26.590-08:00the trip, part 2, part c: OUTThe morning came and fortunately the weather had rained itself out. So I got to wake up to waterfalls pouring like an avalanche coming down the mountain.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEk3SPVnNCR0S6jT5aXW3MzpMOvCvlMKxnBDsW4BXvfT_WP8UG96WLOPEZfnuO9Gv4oqeJAeehWXNOREJPfc7w1fNli9VYjIVSFD6s-p-CAaSce6KRkHAKWuZH-6KK_JHivvg1b1tKULU/s1600/0202010948.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEk3SPVnNCR0S6jT5aXW3MzpMOvCvlMKxnBDsW4BXvfT_WP8UG96WLOPEZfnuO9Gv4oqeJAeehWXNOREJPfc7w1fNli9VYjIVSFD6s-p-CAaSce6KRkHAKWuZH-6KK_JHivvg1b1tKULU/s320/0202010948.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573633831234457234" border="0" /></a><br />I thought that was cool and all until I saw this:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4epa9o8BwoDGu1MudokDBDblUXQAb0vPRT44mdglOO85YsaD0r8el1yWMGkp4t58Ji6TRg62NIPRU0n8adDwggbGMUfPaFqhfMpLnxfvwc_I2zEuU0yyC-DKe3Zf9o7PvvEEBJL2KDw/s1600/0202011028.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4epa9o8BwoDGu1MudokDBDblUXQAb0vPRT44mdglOO85YsaD0r8el1yWMGkp4t58Ji6TRg62NIPRU0n8adDwggbGMUfPaFqhfMpLnxfvwc_I2zEuU0yyC-DKe3Zf9o7PvvEEBJL2KDw/s320/0202011028.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573633839277641810" border="0" /></a><br />Hopefully the picture is good enough to capture that this waterfall fell from a slope so steep and high that it never hit the ground! It just evaporated in the wind coming through the valley. Wild.<br /><br />More and more walking, enjoying how light our packs were after eating most of our food. We had taken a large supply of homemade trail mix, dried figs and apricots, some VitaMix (like gatorade) packets and a large supply of Bumper Bars and One Square Meals.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8eqZloyW8GlWnLt7jDnYQcAb2W7l3Gpu8Ark5RbCt-JnxTHDlUfSaIqPNOBD9CS9dud8uM-zWm6rKiB2vHsJWCL4IeCvfI31CX1GN4mEH1IKdWvex6chGxBkCvL3Mwk_Bn-zkJwpn7q0/s1600/onesquaremeal.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 227px; height: 197px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8eqZloyW8GlWnLt7jDnYQcAb2W7l3Gpu8Ark5RbCt-JnxTHDlUfSaIqPNOBD9CS9dud8uM-zWm6rKiB2vHsJWCL4IeCvfI31CX1GN4mEH1IKdWvex6chGxBkCvL3Mwk_Bn-zkJwpn7q0/s320/onesquaremeal.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573638147325522066" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZO_bAvAj3_J-74iRvdxkc4p0KwdCEseATl7_BcrP7ctYBSFFP5I1evZ1MdLg7Ugimoxj_aPvXJhZIB27RROa6KValFrmRSVvDzfS-jl14RPoiJxWZ4T7zYWrJUllZKs2oFMbPYGohWUQ/s1600/bumperbars.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 183px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZO_bAvAj3_J-74iRvdxkc4p0KwdCEseATl7_BcrP7ctYBSFFP5I1evZ1MdLg7Ugimoxj_aPvXJhZIB27RROa6KValFrmRSVvDzfS-jl14RPoiJxWZ4T7zYWrJUllZKs2oFMbPYGohWUQ/s320/bumperbars.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573638137394036194" border="0" /></a>Both of these delightful products are made by Cookie Time, a kiwi company that was founded by New Zealands only indigenous muppet:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJBIwDKE33jqp46gDvSppt76rckjfYt1y__qieu5iLj7fDknU7voGv0Rx2qCSPDpi9lZDR_0drNa1Ey7Of-s80DQQnQ4CybEP9Euqw0XNsqNEtBG__u5nVQ_EB-GJ543SblvOchH7A1M/s1600/cookie+time.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 218px; height: 163px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJBIwDKE33jqp46gDvSppt76rckjfYt1y__qieu5iLj7fDknU7voGv0Rx2qCSPDpi9lZDR_0drNa1Ey7Of-s80DQQnQ4CybEP9Euqw0XNsqNEtBG__u5nVQ_EB-GJ543SblvOchH7A1M/s320/cookie+time.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573640844090529314" border="0" /></a><br /></div><img src="file:///Users/henrydrak/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/moz-screenshot.png" alt="" />The long road emerged from the beech-dominated forest along the shore of fantastic Lake Motaru. Coop and I agreed that relaxing on the sand next to a freezing cold mountain lake was a fine reward for our efforts. We did not agree that swimming in the freezing cold lake was another fine reward. While Coop tooka dip, my inner Librarian took over, compelling me to organize the magazines in Motaru Hut where we slept that night.<br /><br />Another short walk the next morning brought us to the end of the trail, but not without some really exciting river crossings over swaying suspension bridges like this one:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYTtMIy2d4-w_if3lDfZM31omZ8n1oJASTA-B2gO23DHPxeHE6bw10cL3WqMn4wF3uUfXAcXy07T1NKTmXE54_i1boS0QMvVcVYS1lFY5wybeSlsJTPtvjheokSRnYCTMUe59Xceo-sU/s1600/0203010941.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYTtMIy2d4-w_if3lDfZM31omZ8n1oJASTA-B2gO23DHPxeHE6bw10cL3WqMn4wF3uUfXAcXy07T1NKTmXE54_i1boS0QMvVcVYS1lFY5wybeSlsJTPtvjheokSRnYCTMUe59Xceo-sU/s320/0203010941.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573633857524210642" border="0" /></a><br />The end of the trail happened to be part of the scenery from The Lord of the Rings, but as these sites go it was pretty underwhelming. The guidebook said it was one of the locations for the River Anduin, but who knows where or when the heck that was in the movie?<br /><br />In fact, we probably got closer to Peter Jackson and co. when we hit up the cast's favorite restaurant and bar in town, the Redcliff cafe back in Te Anau.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbqrMYDeNpKtfZzlhk5f6v4XcHivKuRpSb1xC9GfFqyBBgRf2YvxJhxd1O40N_gNO5F7GVUmvsh93VeujXkF0U4Ur4NrkEjArWVV4FmgTx8hezdFgw8ajAMmZv_BtwoSTBs8ckMXinBlA/s1600/0203012151.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbqrMYDeNpKtfZzlhk5f6v4XcHivKuRpSb1xC9GfFqyBBgRf2YvxJhxd1O40N_gNO5F7GVUmvsh93VeujXkF0U4Ur4NrkEjArWVV4FmgTx8hezdFgw8ajAMmZv_BtwoSTBs8ckMXinBlA/s320/0203012151.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573633867279342226" border="0" /></a><br />There were more adventures back in Auckland, ones where I am forced to jump into something I am not sure I'll like. Stay tuned, true believers!Hankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00490598895232528728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23469876410341782.post-66557675220449162672011-02-09T22:18:00.000-08:002011-02-11T21:24:23.153-08:00the trip, part 2, part b: DOWNSo here we are on the top of Mt. Luxmore, thousands of feet above the surrounding valleys and lakes and forests. Starbucks Via instant coffee does its miraculous, medicinal thing, and we're off.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJE6Zn03rxsHX0v_LbkDZs1HX0eMDjqg2KSFMq5zkzzdY266XRRD5v6CHKq9JE_cf-LF_83WIwIQwrkRZEeVuUmqIzPLCPkKS5pi1ePf1I6rehKvID3DNf11me0148vtZbIktuG1AvlMg/s1600/0201010954.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJE6Zn03rxsHX0v_LbkDZs1HX0eMDjqg2KSFMq5zkzzdY266XRRD5v6CHKq9JE_cf-LF_83WIwIQwrkRZEeVuUmqIzPLCPkKS5pi1ePf1I6rehKvID3DNf11me0148vtZbIktuG1AvlMg/s320/0201010954.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572665062469582754" border="0" /></a><br />You should take a minute to read my trailbuddy's <a href="http://spacefoetus.blogspot.com/2011/02/there-and-back-again-part-one.html">blog.</a> Inevitably when you go hiking with someone and sleep in a stupid 6' x 3' nylon bag night after night, you want to pretend that no one will know if you kill them and leave them somewhere along the trail. Coop didn't do that to me, and I really appreciate it. He was probably too busy taking great pictures to kill me, anyway. That must be it.<br /><br />The wind up at the top of the mountain is incredible. It seems to come from all directions at once, like you are imploding in slow motion, and then all of a sudden it changes. The hut warden told tales of smaller trampers being lifted off of the ground by the gales. This sounded fun to me until Coop pointed out that while flying is fun, landing remains an issue. True. I regretted not bringing more trail mix.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmseKbom0_alJsCkQ5nX4KrbQbrE7kvC8A5v15SkcakLwbW4QZufvscoi6hzNp-BJ41o5C0krOEc1EAJVtAKJM_RXEfT1aKoR1aWSWlYhGS4j4TRqTZXUgNpCejS3PukP1mFNsYWJOM94/s1600/0201011148.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmseKbom0_alJsCkQ5nX4KrbQbrE7kvC8A5v15SkcakLwbW4QZufvscoi6hzNp-BJ41o5C0krOEc1EAJVtAKJM_RXEfT1aKoR1aWSWlYhGS4j4TRqTZXUgNpCejS3PukP1mFNsYWJOM94/s320/0201011148.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572665072939642690" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzV7VGDqiGqcwXHBZ_P4eCxijgJpFOdNztrXQXeM_vdVzt0KxhoIc9lJAi6q-_OFsqO_RIMPcsCMltKBlMT90yz2w1wcP6SEa0Ro4M-QVks0eQ_bfKPH1vNkf1V4xYWOXh7nLqCfF758/s1600/0201011057.jpg"><br /></a><br />The trail led away from the deeeeee-Luxmore hut on into the Kepler mountains. We did a fair bit of hiking on trails cut across the side of the mountain, but in some places it took us right along the ridge, offering deep valley views on either side. I loved the crops of exposed rock we passed by on the top.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzV7VGDqiGqcwXHBZ_P4eCxijgJpFOdNztrXQXeM_vdVzt0KxhoIc9lJAi6q-_OFsqO_RIMPcsCMltKBlMT90yz2w1wcP6SEa0Ro4M-QVks0eQ_bfKPH1vNkf1V4xYWOXh7nLqCfF758/s1600/0201011057.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzV7VGDqiGqcwXHBZ_P4eCxijgJpFOdNztrXQXeM_vdVzt0KxhoIc9lJAi6q-_OFsqO_RIMPcsCMltKBlMT90yz2w1wcP6SEa0Ro4M-QVks0eQ_bfKPH1vNkf1V4xYWOXh7nLqCfF758/s320/0201011057.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572665067032385154" border="0" /></a><br />After a ways we came to the last lookout on the peaks and began the decent. Like I said before, the forest on this western side was more dense and had more ferns and lush moss and undergrowth. We began to see the head waters of some rivers we would cross in their fuller version later. The Department of Conservation does a pretty awesome job of providing bridges that make the trail doable, but still really wild. Check out Coop strolling along about 50 metres up in the air here:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDReDmZ2f09mt4dsMk217x_ICbuvqgyZ79fbTiOJUu0R99fANq6bEQe1nLzzc_TDLCNyjS5t8qSZjm9AHvLMbQQ8ySIwtqJj5suWkRfAkGaHLWTjNGMQfxzw1m_sOrpV343YNysYPrz1E/s1600/0201011322.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDReDmZ2f09mt4dsMk217x_ICbuvqgyZ79fbTiOJUu0R99fANq6bEQe1nLzzc_TDLCNyjS5t8qSZjm9AHvLMbQQ8ySIwtqJj5suWkRfAkGaHLWTjNGMQfxzw1m_sOrpV343YNysYPrz1E/s320/0201011322.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572665075577809138" border="0" /></a><br />At the bottom, we reached our campsite and set up the tent. Having some time to chill out and explore the Iris Burn area was a boon. The waterfall out a ways in the forest was a nice place to hang out.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-LPw3WxpvwZ9U7itfprsvC85yPc0UaAI7JSHIOq2KkFMNB8Kngl05yPzTbhn_xs378gVilDCPK-riaA879Na5JpVdRY2e-8U3Z14Jdu_dK5VaGLe89lJfXRgiO-zr3xW7h4zfdCPvWg/s1600/0201011556a.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-LPw3WxpvwZ9U7itfprsvC85yPc0UaAI7JSHIOq2KkFMNB8Kngl05yPzTbhn_xs378gVilDCPK-riaA879Na5JpVdRY2e-8U3Z14Jdu_dK5VaGLe89lJfXRgiO-zr3xW7h4zfdCPvWg/s320/0201011556a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572665074665577282" border="0" /></a><br />We saw a ghost here later that night, and Coop even got a picture! But he deleted it to make room for the running video commentary he was making, which I hope he shares on trailblog.Hankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00490598895232528728noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23469876410341782.post-71690465839641502322011-02-09T11:51:00.000-08:002011-02-09T17:49:37.425-08:00the trip, part 2, part a: UP<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVkZux5Fkx-ZAD3f4sJwsz6ZJEerQ4xn7aB7iNakZEiGwd0FUr42L9scvQ9rdafqz2-jHtV-90NZoB-e55_05_E6gKqYLIuZZWfgVLH7hgZU5r-DxCVLtKhxV7eLR-c9sJSMTecGMDTs/s1600/0131012031b.jpg"><br /></a><br />Arriving in Queenstown by plane from Christchurch was a treat. Queenstown is sort of nestled right into a small patch of grass on the side of a mountain and in front of a lake. The airport had a helpful dirsplay of what not to bring on a plane, possibly inspired by terrible airplane disaster movies.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguigX50q7_QgskzWWNSzXTObxyf6LTjfUFxRq2Uti0WQhgjtOrKnQISIyUsARUOIBt5FglBURvaM5BNR2HTh265Pf9QSDylbuSBCBpHOGRt8MUWpDMzpr-tjs0byPf836K7la_9Ad2T2c/s1600/0130011024.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguigX50q7_QgskzWWNSzXTObxyf6LTjfUFxRq2Uti0WQhgjtOrKnQISIyUsARUOIBt5FglBURvaM5BNR2HTh265Pf9QSDylbuSBCBpHOGRt8MUWpDMzpr-tjs0byPf836K7la_9Ad2T2c/s320/0130011024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571869087040132162" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Queenstown is a small oasis that reminded me a lot of Boulder, Colorado. Small, colorful town, jumping off point for adventure. We did some last minute shopping for Bumper Bars (like clif bars), a mozzie net (for mosquitos, but better used for sandflies) and then a final kebab and ginger beer before heading into wilderness.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh841dEykHOWLXrK_7ahrRGCf6GSzGg8DjD-KJ9NM2n12LG_-Hz7Icjr54Hm-len5us3S7XRJzFzLV3NUpdWkdMYxFnSD_ZoSB2-Q9Vhhis3OF_gkceoh4JY2l2DepapQ3hE_jlPiuS72c/s1600/0130011127.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh841dEykHOWLXrK_7ahrRGCf6GSzGg8DjD-KJ9NM2n12LG_-Hz7Icjr54Hm-len5us3S7XRJzFzLV3NUpdWkdMYxFnSD_ZoSB2-Q9Vhhis3OF_gkceoh4JY2l2DepapQ3hE_jlPiuS72c/s320/0130011127.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571869088660859298" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />It takes a two hour shuttle ride to get from Queenstown to Te Anau where the Fiordlands National Park office and Kepler Track trailhead is located. The forecast for the trip went like this: rain, heavy rain, rain and gale force winds, chance of showers. It's hard to say why I thought hiking in four days of rain sounded like what I wanted to do, but I was intoxicated with finally being in the forests and mountains. I was not thinking straight, but fortunately neither was Coop and we set out. As it happened, the weather really went like this: rain, partly cloudy, light showers, sunny. Most of the rain happened at night, and the effect was to swell the rivers and waterfalls we saw. So it was all to the good.<br /><br />The west coast, facing the Tasman Sea, gets a lot of rain on the west side of the mountain and not as much on the east. This means that the forests on the east side have different vegetation than the lusher and more rainforest-y west.<br /><br />Day one took us to the Brod Bay campsite where it rained all night. Only the promise of Starbucks instant coffee, Via, kept me alive. Day two had the majority of the climbing, and in fact after a lot of effort we cleared the bush line, the altitude above which trees don't grow. That's where the really cool views started.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDEWcCzcxHxadx8tmdQUEWF5Hw41rLM2VPyHtaLLnxA0NtBKTvt6B0zJ5g5gYeMsbqlzFySAQvtz7Mb3ucY6RyfDQvEnOtRt1PPCMwW57h2wuCvINz38tKlt-NeVFa8Ko-jIInt4N9Dn4/s1600/0131011105a.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDEWcCzcxHxadx8tmdQUEWF5Hw41rLM2VPyHtaLLnxA0NtBKTvt6B0zJ5g5gYeMsbqlzFySAQvtz7Mb3ucY6RyfDQvEnOtRt1PPCMwW57h2wuCvINz38tKlt-NeVFa8Ko-jIInt4N9Dn4/s320/0131011105a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571869095386664354" border="0" /></a><br />Day two ended at the Luxmore hut. And it was certainly more 'lux than we were expecting. It even had a helipad! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdr5zC3REu5HFpiWSTRvkt_X7PUgAGFMH4EIFdIiXNGnZ2G10GcA3Sq9STCYDfo86CBkemgRpe9_tu961XjLQstF1rgCyk2WivHQ2Oyr_INf8CyUXm2HtCBG3QrWpdcuCrFhBmIetX5Hc/s1600/0131011144.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdr5zC3REu5HFpiWSTRvkt_X7PUgAGFMH4EIFdIiXNGnZ2G10GcA3Sq9STCYDfo86CBkemgRpe9_tu961XjLQstF1rgCyk2WivHQ2Oyr_INf8CyUXm2HtCBG3QrWpdcuCrFhBmIetX5Hc/s320/0131011144.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571869108746617890" border="0" /></a><br />We arrived early enough to nearly get lost in the nearby Luxmore Caves. They kept going on forever down into the mountain. It was perfectly dark in there, there were no lights or handrails or signs. They just expected you to behave and be careful, although they did have signs in the hut that required you to take two light sources per person in case one failed. We crawled under rocks, over stalagmites, and through the small stream that was carving out the cave. A really amazing place. The only down moment was that the bald guy who dropped his ring in there. I felt bad for him.<br /><br />Sun setting behind us, the view from Luxmore was one to remember.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVkZux5Fkx-ZAD3f4sJwsz6ZJEerQ4xn7aB7iNakZEiGwd0FUr42L9scvQ9rdafqz2-jHtV-90NZoB-e55_05_E6gKqYLIuZZWfgVLH7hgZU5r-DxCVLtKhxV7eLR-c9sJSMTecGMDTs/s1600/0131012031b.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVkZux5Fkx-ZAD3f4sJwsz6ZJEerQ4xn7aB7iNakZEiGwd0FUr42L9scvQ9rdafqz2-jHtV-90NZoB-e55_05_E6gKqYLIuZZWfgVLH7hgZU5r-DxCVLtKhxV7eLR-c9sJSMTecGMDTs/s320/0131012031b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571869105327403058" border="0" /></a>Hankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00490598895232528728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23469876410341782.post-11526188508888337002011-02-08T16:35:00.001-08:002011-02-08T17:44:41.085-08:00the trip, part 1Back home after a long trip away with my buddy Coop. Finally made it to the South Island going by train, boat, plane and foot. Coop and I decided to head for Fiordland National Park, on the southwest part of the country. New Zealand has three train rides that take you over long distances: the Overlander that crosses the North Island and connects Auckland and Wellington, the Transcoastal the connects Picton and Christchurch along an east coast route, and the Transalpine which negotiates the mountains between Christchurch and Greymouth.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFqPm7obMgtiJc1N6UWIwX6z1c65ACx981Kzp5_YdZXFuscnyQdsN-D2DC-YFuDpj6Ajl463YUvmItNPUb3WhhuGD3xAQDOwh5EvkIh2bNU1nZdB7LwyhNjN-yJI4vIcejgTh_mK4arQQ/s1600/0128011210.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFqPm7obMgtiJc1N6UWIwX6z1c65ACx981Kzp5_YdZXFuscnyQdsN-D2DC-YFuDpj6Ajl463YUvmItNPUb3WhhuGD3xAQDOwh5EvkIh2bNU1nZdB7LwyhNjN-yJI4vIcejgTh_mK4arQQ/s320/0128011210.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571498242090125042" border="0" /></a><br />We started on the Overlander. Twelve hours of scenery including mountains around the center of the island and deep valleys towards the south. It's important to stock up on snacks like delicious Pineapple Lumps for such long rides even though the dining car offers nice lunch options. The train had an observation deck that was open to the outside. It's amazing how fast trains whip over the tracks. It also made for a great spot to take pictures of crossing over high up railway bridges.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwRi29Zkawkd1NkvNfWIGPfX9q9paV9_nDiui19mOnzg8_asMbpElBMdemWihbf1Cee2psENpyxcBxbi4O2kyRtZ1Vcl3AQJLJqY31m2QmJtKU4bpfL4FqQfj6GumQeodQ6cHGOPS5emU/s1600/0128011621.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwRi29Zkawkd1NkvNfWIGPfX9q9paV9_nDiui19mOnzg8_asMbpElBMdemWihbf1Cee2psENpyxcBxbi4O2kyRtZ1Vcl3AQJLJqY31m2QmJtKU4bpfL4FqQfj6GumQeodQ6cHGOPS5emU/s320/0128011621.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571498236355436306" border="0" /></a><br />The train got into Wellington with enough time for us to check into a hostel and hit the streets. Hunger and hot blood from a day on a train drove us to the city center where we found, as if by magic, the perfect place to eat: Abra-kebab-ra! A kebab is like a gyro, but since little lammykins are raised all over NZ, the ingredients are delicious.<br /><br />Early next morning, we boarded the Interislander ferry to Picton. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTbc9AIXkAawiaY-4B7x0vcWnXPxmFF5gHmRTPEOcQ1sKIWC7HqJk98ZAu-wOsKItj2bgVk9wbMPRnI2_1YXLz-Hc3lcjIkUbF9MxgMB-eRSeA2i17HHx5mbqaVorTdtnBeM4gsw2VnsA/s1600/0129011027a.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTbc9AIXkAawiaY-4B7x0vcWnXPxmFF5gHmRTPEOcQ1sKIWC7HqJk98ZAu-wOsKItj2bgVk9wbMPRnI2_1YXLz-Hc3lcjIkUbF9MxgMB-eRSeA2i17HHx5mbqaVorTdtnBeM4gsw2VnsA/s320/0129011027a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571498246174706514" border="0" /></a>Stunning scenery, and no pirates even though they were marked on the map. Good news for us.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjen5t05Rl5Eh__ninf0Zk_ct_A8BQF6blgVOFFYiOEZvvG8wgO9NVDGL99j9H0LGicw6yoeomB9CBQPpUUIKFZnG8fUfxkHwif0XaT_YMUWXB7torwI7pIRnxBQGg0OmCS5IvGticGdEE/s1600/0129010823.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjen5t05Rl5Eh__ninf0Zk_ct_A8BQF6blgVOFFYiOEZvvG8wgO9NVDGL99j9H0LGicw6yoeomB9CBQPpUUIKFZnG8fUfxkHwif0XaT_YMUWXB7torwI7pIRnxBQGg0OmCS5IvGticGdEE/s320/0129010823.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571498244654848194" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Straight from the ferry onto the Transcoastal train. This train had a whole car for observation, rather than just a small porch. I'll never forget the pleasure of speeding on tracks a stone's throw from the ocean, through tunnels and short grassy fields, in between small enclaves of pine trees and waving to the seals lounging on the rocks. This was my favorite part of the traveling to our destination.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSrkKiQ6_A4mefCbL5NV67ik9DheUTwUw3MpmT5527ToS_VISGIgtdRIEqldFk6TDNzpHh0w8tIot0obIxghPtgJuxF2j4vr9SpXlJBUDlnvsO6Gau3eCBFPWFsu9hyphenhyphenF4P-BqsCEr24dg/s1600/0129011514a.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSrkKiQ6_A4mefCbL5NV67ik9DheUTwUw3MpmT5527ToS_VISGIgtdRIEqldFk6TDNzpHh0w8tIot0obIxghPtgJuxF2j4vr9SpXlJBUDlnvsO6Gau3eCBFPWFsu9hyphenhyphenF4P-BqsCEr24dg/s320/0129011514a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571498249813231202" border="0" /></a><br />Christchurch is a much smaller and flatter city than Auckland, and it happens to be where our buddy JT lives. He showed us around and explained that the line out the door and around the corner at Wendy's is due to the fact that it is the first of its kind there. Can't get over the square patties, maybe. JT was an excellent host and took us to the best bar in town, which had live music and an open attic, complete with comfy furniture. Falling asleep in bars is nothing new to me but I wished they hadn't made it quite to easy. Coop and I needed our energy though, because the next day we started our five day hike along the Kepler Track in Fiordland National Park. Stay tuned for the next installment of the trip!Hankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00490598895232528728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23469876410341782.post-1467425940267589582010-12-29T13:22:00.000-08:002010-12-29T13:39:42.813-08:00December Monthly Report<strong>By the numbers (and examples of note)</strong><br />times I've moved: 2<br />new flatmates: 7 (+1 cat)<br />bus rides: 8<br />bike rides: 4<br />train rides: 0<br />ferry rides: 0<br />walks in a park: 13<br />walks after midnight:3<br />times I've made stir-fry:3<br />times I ate stir-fry leftovers:4<br />beers:17<br />liters of milk: 4.5<br />loaves of bread: 2<br />movies (in the cinema): 2 (Harry Potter and The Disappearance of Alice Creed)<br />movies (on TV): 12 (<em>The Last Emporer, Die Hard series, It's Complicated</em>)<br />books read: 6 ("<em>Under the Mountain", "See Ya, Simon", "Children Playing Before a Statue of Hercules")</em><br />short stories read: 15 (<em>Half a Grapefruit </em>by Alice Munro<em>, Best of Betty</em> by Jincy Willett)<br />times I used the library computer: 7<br />times I used my flatmates computer: 9<br />interviews: 2 (for three positions)<br />job offers: 0<br />new bands I've seen playing live music: 8 (Heart Attack Alley)<br />swims in the Pacific Ocean: 2<br />swims in the Tasman Sea: 1<br />pick up soccer games: 1<br />blisters: 2<br />minutes spent calling home: 47<br />baking competitions entered: 1<br />place: 2<br />cookies/pieces of pie eaten at Christmas party: 8<br />invites to New Year's parties: 3<br />hours spen turning a pair of pants and a belt into a satchel: 6<br />minutes spent coutning angels on a pinhead, wondering what to do next: 378<br /><br />*Note: beer total does not include New Year's EveHankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00490598895232528728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23469876410341782.post-10437601652917004912010-12-19T19:49:00.000-08:002010-12-19T20:20:53.762-08:00The Velveteen Laptop<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Strange how computers change our lives, or how much more we're affected by their absence. My computer has been in the shop for a while being repaired. It's taken a bit longer than usual to get it fixed, hence the radio silence. I stopped into the store today and noted that it's called Magnum Mac, way tougher than <em>iStore</em>, or whatever other wimpy names they go by. The service guy told me that they were running diagnostics, and couldn't tell me when the repair would be completed. The original issue, that when opening the laptop the backlight would periodically fail to come on, was something that fell into the cliche of repair issues - namely that they couldn't recreate the problem. The repair file noted that they are trying to 'fault' the computer, meaning that the technicians have not yet seen my backlight failure issues, rather than they are blaming my computer for all their problems. I'm not sure how much I believe in the 'aliveness' of things, or if karma extends to inanimate objects, but I certainly did as a kid. I would wonder if my toys were comfortable in the positions I left them in, or if He-man wanted to spend the afternoon in his bulky form or relax in his Adam of Eternia casual attire. I can remember putting Marble Madness in the NES, even though I hated it because the play control was sloppier than eating an open-faced reuben sandwich on a hot summer day, just so it would have something to talk about with the other catridges when I went to school. So now I can see how my anxiety has traveled with me to adulthood and Auckland, where I fret for my poor macbook, languishing for weeks in a flashy, mac-world chrome and white workshop somewhere, wondering why everyone keeps trying to find fault with it. Now I think I want it back not so much for the reassurance of my laptop's self esteem, but to distract myself from wondering about it. I just hope my bike doesn't get jealous.</span>Hankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00490598895232528728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23469876410341782.post-14794832239999435992010-12-06T17:05:00.001-08:002010-12-06T17:27:46.078-08:00A quiet little place in the city<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjKgdddB1jqTnTysWqu5qCT56xJBj-No9Mm0xumitpKs9YAt8bpg4X959ke2U4GYNYhIm2tEbZLan_HSgnSVVPf_Cg3VoAUV4wRdJDAsWhai2ihRSSdaSyAE0gGlPvJp9f8cIQIxg0HNY/s1600/1206001411.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjKgdddB1jqTnTysWqu5qCT56xJBj-No9Mm0xumitpKs9YAt8bpg4X959ke2U4GYNYhIm2tEbZLan_HSgnSVVPf_Cg3VoAUV4wRdJDAsWhai2ihRSSdaSyAE0gGlPvJp9f8cIQIxg0HNY/s320/1206001411.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547743343430744178" border="0" /></a>I've been off the radar for a while taking care of some basic necessities like finding a new place to live. My stay with Marianne and Terry, wonderful in every way, was ending before the holidays. I had trouble thinking I could find another place so comfortable, convenient and affordable, but I did! It's perfect: fine, friendly young people, an excellent backyard for reading and drying clothes in the sun, a short walk to awesome pubs, cafes, downtown and the beach.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4uIMfMHKIGMk6x8seJRvPdXN_hbE0x_E8B-nGHq5zuJRgSf8JpDOREl_CCf7_IqFgiZjs7IK6Mz9Cymrb6uHKnJHbKbO49HBbmed34irxVN5oOciFRcuOv20QBalztNeSAeC7a6hAK3s/s1600/1207001252a.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4uIMfMHKIGMk6x8seJRvPdXN_hbE0x_E8B-nGHq5zuJRgSf8JpDOREl_CCf7_IqFgiZjs7IK6Mz9Cymrb6uHKnJHbKbO49HBbmed34irxVN5oOciFRcuOv20QBalztNeSAeC7a6hAK3s/s320/1207001252a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547743348084026802" border="0" /></a> And there's a hammock!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9HsNDkJpaC59x5GnI0yh3tRb2eadM616gPRcTSqFYqC-EubUUZlrrgy1iofOeXpqSJLuwrlduZoLLfvgmhIsq7MGmkbxpsMyN3-8KkMf5jQ7PIhVvGEwadhCmlwIbA3YaMf5pGFo3d6U/s1600/1207001255.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9HsNDkJpaC59x5GnI0yh3tRb2eadM616gPRcTSqFYqC-EubUUZlrrgy1iofOeXpqSJLuwrlduZoLLfvgmhIsq7MGmkbxpsMyN3-8KkMf5jQ7PIhVvGEwadhCmlwIbA3YaMf5pGFo3d6U/s320/1207001255.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547743350085756434" border="0" /></a>On my street, Collingwood, I saw a flower getting some attention from a bee.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />My new addy is<br /><br />6/25 Collingwood St<br />Freeman's Bay<br />Auckland 1011<br />New Zealand<br /><br />It's just a block and a half from Ponsonby Rd, and another block to my favorite burger joint, Murder Burger. Check out <a href="http://www.murderburger.co.nz/">their website. </a><br />I like this picture they posted of Street Fighter II characters in the minimalism style, except that it really shafts Zangief of his best attribute.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.murderburger.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/minimalist-street-fighter-300x300.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.murderburger.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/minimalist-street-fighter-300x300.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Hankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00490598895232528728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23469876410341782.post-1747351661015221182010-11-28T00:54:00.000-08:002010-11-28T00:54:00.236-08:00November 23 - Day Twenty - The Pres<span style="font-weight: bold;">Practicum Day 20<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Site: City Center<br /><br /></span>Today I gave a presentation to the assembled Children's Librarians about Every Child Ready to Read. I dont' remember who said it, but I know of a quote disparaging the Eiffel Tower: "I like to go up in the Eiffel Tower because it's the only place in Paris where I don't have to see it".<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>This is more or less how I felt about giving this presentation. The short version is that librarians have a connection with parents and caregivers who come to storytime. A specific part of ECRR are the six ideas that position a child to be successful when it comes to learning literacy in school. If librarians articulate these ideas, and how they happen during reading together with a child, parents can continue these practices at home. I also presented some ideas about the efficacy of the program, and whether or not it really fits with what libraries are and want to do.<br /><br />I think a better point to make may have been something like "there are things we intuitively know and say about literacy. Here are some concrete phrases and ideas to support that." In general, I tend to agree with Mem Fox and <a href="http://www.memfox.com/reading-magic-intro">what she had to say in her book <span style="font-style: italic;">Reading Magic</span></a>, basically that reading expressively and frequently are the keys to helping children read. My thoughts are definitely influenced by a sense that being internally motivated to read is what determines reading success. This requires treating reading not as a skill in and of itself, but as a way one can experience a story or gain information. Is that compatible with ECRR? Of course, but the structure of the six elements gives the feeling of making reading and early literacy formulaic. For instance, the excitement of reading (called Print Motivation in ECRR) is just one of six elements but I think it has a more underlying quality than, say, learning letters.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Hankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00490598895232528728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23469876410341782.post-47435688873396676552010-11-27T02:20:00.000-08:002010-11-27T02:20:00.324-08:00When the day is done<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWjxRvcZDGtjlGUJyOPeBQ8JFfcqvnrQDHKnQHJ0poMrdPwZZxkpBKmzSVJZHDzuuOqXofw6IQH0I0B1H19Tv96ogsTGKx_CIZueObzB-LczLeekZQd5TQuc-pkaIY0W-6eELvnUIxi2Y/s1600/1122001720.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWjxRvcZDGtjlGUJyOPeBQ8JFfcqvnrQDHKnQHJ0poMrdPwZZxkpBKmzSVJZHDzuuOqXofw6IQH0I0B1H19Tv96ogsTGKx_CIZueObzB-LczLeekZQd5TQuc-pkaIY0W-6eELvnUIxi2Y/s320/1122001720.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542688679561091250" border="0" /></a>After I'm done at the library, I usually do one of a few things downtown before heading home. I spend a lot of time in Albert Park, just across the street.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieo0xYqoXkTVy3RzUfB4k0TmS5gDtQGDJevBKIykkim9UeTwy50VzcS2r_oJi4nLvBeyq19_YDf02RybbVEOuDlr0hpFahGv9EeMLT5mZ3XEJ-LL_ZnbbzcJtKV_xCNhTLWecGmoR8x1A/s1600/1123001918.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieo0xYqoXkTVy3RzUfB4k0TmS5gDtQGDJevBKIykkim9UeTwy50VzcS2r_oJi4nLvBeyq19_YDf02RybbVEOuDlr0hpFahGv9EeMLT5mZ3XEJ-LL_ZnbbzcJtKV_xCNhTLWecGmoR8x1A/s320/1123001918.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542688687036408450" border="0" /></a>Sometimes I walk around and sight-see or people watch. This is a shot of the Sky Tower from its base, unless you're familiar with the tripods from John Christopher's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tripods">The White Mountains trilogy. </a>Did I ever tell you I had a dream about being in that story? I was part of a group of slaves in one of the cities, attempting a daring escape. We had to be absolutely silent, and we were, even though it was painful and hot and slow going. Fortunately, Inspector Gadget was among the slaves. His gadgets were invaluable in eluding the tripods. Nearing the hole in the dome over the city, freedom was so close we could think of nothing else but leaving this tortured existence when all of a sudden, every single one of Inspector Gadgets gadgets went off and we were caught and doomed to horrible fates.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn5aloRDPE2pi1_8Ehx5Pj9R_7FcR1NC0nuSbxE2s0J6zH0EqNE0mBr4pqFBhOiT2aGXfOMLnjU5AZJuZHUw4RdkctzQn4G2vnqMkwpXf6frK6-Sj6pDYenOPv1qKkEWakuGCdmxs6dqE/s1600/1123001749.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn5aloRDPE2pi1_8Ehx5Pj9R_7FcR1NC0nuSbxE2s0J6zH0EqNE0mBr4pqFBhOiT2aGXfOMLnjU5AZJuZHUw4RdkctzQn4G2vnqMkwpXf6frK6-Sj6pDYenOPv1qKkEWakuGCdmxs6dqE/s320/1123001749.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542688684200966290" border="0" /></a>There is a movie theater in the basement of the library. There isn't really a relationship to speak of; the library and movie theater just share the building. After work one day I went to see <a href="http://www.google.co.nz/search?q=exit+through+the+gift+shop&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=GPW&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=vn&source=univ&tbs=vid:1&tbo=u&ei=PprrTKyvI430swONrcX_Dg&sa=X&oi=video_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CC0QqwQwAA"><span style="font-style: italic;">Exit Through The Gift Shop </span></a><span style="font-style: italic;"></span>a documentary about...street art, but also a crazy guy who was extremely creative but in uncontrollable ways. It's hilarious. It was made by Banksy (pictured) who I figured wouldn't mind if I took pictures in the theater.Hankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00490598895232528728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23469876410341782.post-18772965060091536992010-11-25T01:42:00.000-08:002010-11-25T01:42:00.340-08:00The present in pictures and the future in coffeeI got a book from the library about digital photography. See what you think of the progress:<br /><br />TIP: use black and white.<br />SUBJECT: Marianne and Terry's kitchen<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIuLTE9TELtkrazBWYsWPg00UGtortf6rxfjMlr0FLdrjBPiOqByzWaX61WhoKOwde0tkvdhieNT8iEkZ1t-uED5Uts9-BCJhYhdJAA192FAicNeJWKjfCgmRQ6-gurK50Rd_Q9-pAnNQ/s1600/1115002022.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIuLTE9TELtkrazBWYsWPg00UGtortf6rxfjMlr0FLdrjBPiOqByzWaX61WhoKOwde0tkvdhieNT8iEkZ1t-uED5Uts9-BCJhYhdJAA192FAicNeJWKjfCgmRQ6-gurK50Rd_Q9-pAnNQ/s320/1115002022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542679932736381282" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />TIP: In situations that are flooded with light, such as landscapes during the day, use a low ISO setting. The ISO measures sensitivity to light. Use a high ISO for close ups and action shots.<br />SUBJECT: Comedy Central roast of Mike King.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUfJ2_oj4ZRvFT0FtgrNAoa1IiEI2FLBC5KzDi_GAXzhtfxpaymPHZgL-krzzWt1TVip3OZJUAxwbU1TgzE3kbTveTrMB1PCVdB4T2xpS9wHEIaOzGMGCs8xzjXakx9Q1_RkdpsUOsD0/s1600/1119002313.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUfJ2_oj4ZRvFT0FtgrNAoa1IiEI2FLBC5KzDi_GAXzhtfxpaymPHZgL-krzzWt1TVip3OZJUAxwbU1TgzE3kbTveTrMB1PCVdB4T2xpS9wHEIaOzGMGCs8xzjXakx9Q1_RkdpsUOsD0/s320/1119002313.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542679945060425154" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />TIP: The button on digital cameras often have a setting that, when pushed halfway down, will autofocus. If you autofocus and, still holding the button halfway down, move the camera around you can dictate where the focus will be.<br />SUBJECT: glass bead mosaic pathway<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcRsI1EilYnUMWMlsLViL-rXI3vOPgZ1byvCFrwJ5dnvL-bj-2aSwdG8Q0e945Li_l463N7W_u2PD_sN8XdFUYXfw2XXomMBIxkPzjTXNvbeyhV_H4hbrNhV22_geaGNpbPPGDyC7COJY/s1600/1121001249.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcRsI1EilYnUMWMlsLViL-rXI3vOPgZ1byvCFrwJ5dnvL-bj-2aSwdG8Q0e945Li_l463N7W_u2PD_sN8XdFUYXfw2XXomMBIxkPzjTXNvbeyhV_H4hbrNhV22_geaGNpbPPGDyC7COJY/s320/1121001249.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542679950234407538" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Some other photos. This one is of the White Lady, a late night burger stand in Newmarket.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi12dcg4DVxwdyX8E4SPI9nf8brV2XC3ykFPP9l1rwRxn7b2BSiW9r_8uyosWlNGoTbF4sDXM0QD0ghNNLVGmiM5X77k2U39QcP1-er6WctuvPXP1AEp5fBX79kEvNzhtVVb7AEZUDvVVo/s1600/1117002301.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi12dcg4DVxwdyX8E4SPI9nf8brV2XC3ykFPP9l1rwRxn7b2BSiW9r_8uyosWlNGoTbF4sDXM0QD0ghNNLVGmiM5X77k2U39QcP1-er6WctuvPXP1AEp5fBX79kEvNzhtVVb7AEZUDvVVo/s320/1117002301.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542679930964151474" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />One of many flat whites I've had.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpgNpUNtagTgTaXw_CVKtwqP4NVY9Qmcba-_dpIiauYuzr1peq0DSTJ-hG7CdA2_2Gb6QBcEWvXP6_aMx4LDY3HYNMncxEVHH_rQEza5XuZVNkjLvkigyshY4Os3EddudLgJSDGM0w1c/s1600/1121001444.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpgNpUNtagTgTaXw_CVKtwqP4NVY9Qmcba-_dpIiauYuzr1peq0DSTJ-hG7CdA2_2Gb6QBcEWvXP6_aMx4LDY3HYNMncxEVHH_rQEza5XuZVNkjLvkigyshY4Os3EddudLgJSDGM0w1c/s320/1121001444.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542679969050192466" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I was reading a book about how to become a wizard called <a href="http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/b/herbie-brennan/wizards-apprentice.htm"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Wizard's Apprentice </span></a><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>by Herbie Brennan. He described how to become a wizard by honing the mind and yoking imagination. So it got me thinking about divination and tea leaves. What if you're a wizard and don't drink a lot of tea? And you prefer, say, cappuccino? The future I'm seeing in this cup is....I will buy some trendy skinny robes from American Magical Apparel? <span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>Hankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00490598895232528728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23469876410341782.post-67607360261629413612010-11-23T01:12:00.000-08:002010-11-23T02:47:44.637-08:00November 16 - Day Nineteen - Panmure Redux<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7k9qZTcoYKY8ndvsyyRpw0JLDarSxRRXM_HX_H0pYy3vrx-QUy731C55VHItYnr-iix5C3dw5fSZArfahShZyTgedbOq1snd0SFpftZJ0pjiA79_4SUoR1DOml5Gu97MFfX1XVzoc-O4/s1600/1116000845.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7k9qZTcoYKY8ndvsyyRpw0JLDarSxRRXM_HX_H0pYy3vrx-QUy731C55VHItYnr-iix5C3dw5fSZArfahShZyTgedbOq1snd0SFpftZJ0pjiA79_4SUoR1DOml5Gu97MFfX1XVzoc-O4/s320/1116000845.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542677274640484066" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Practicum Day 19<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;">hours worked: 8<br />hours to date: 106</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span>Back to Panmure on the south side of Auckland. Today marks the day when I have officially spent 100 hours exploring professional roles and work of librarians. Strangely, today was the day that was most reminiscent of work I did at Cleveland Heights. Engaged in some of the practical tasks, thinking like a customer, being available to help when needed, a mix of planning and execution, balancing the necessary with the exciting and elusive. In its own nerdy way (meaning ultra-precise in detail and application), reshelving books is instructive and interesting. Shelving books lets you know what patrons are checking out and what else is in the collection. With more context, you start to wonder about where books should go. Why is the Johnny Cash biography with the music books, rather than the biographies? Why are the bodies of work of photographers in photography, not biography? (In a nod to dewey, music biographies are 780.92, which may generate from 920 being the number for biography) These tasks have a bit of Mr. Miyagi's aura about it - learning through meditative repetition.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></span></span></span>One lesson I learned is to start shelving with the art books, which are thicker and so there are fewer of them per cart.<br /><br />I was lucky to be included in storytime, yet again. This time the theme was clothes, and I got to read <span style="font-style: italic;">You Can't Go To School Naked!</span> by Diane Billstrom. And why not? Because you would get sunburn, or frostbite, or slimed on by frogs at show and tell are all good reasons. The most compelling to me involved what would happen to you by the time you get to the bottom of the slide - getting fried! The afternoon rolled around very quickly, and with it came Akozone, the after school homework club. Trading reading for computer time works very well. Sometimes I find myself engaged with the reading, like today's book about tigers as an endangered species, but you can only take so many readings of <span style="font-style: italic;">Franny K. Stein</span>. I find though, that once you get to know kids, and they know that you care about them, they will give you a chance to offer them something new. I was so happy to get to that point with a few kids on only the second time there. As evidence, I submit the girl who sat through a book of Marc Chagall's work (which I had shelved earlier in the day).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">in the staff room</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />hot chocolates today: 0. Panmure does not have a hot chocolate machine, although they DO have a very nice balcony that just needs maybe a potted tree and a nice chair.<br /><br />hot chocolates to date: 21</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span></span></span>Hankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00490598895232528728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23469876410341782.post-60150235686860686342010-11-13T16:00:00.000-08:002010-11-13T16:00:01.637-08:00Around Auckland 2<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCldlwFuLz4of03CRR9k86mYOSLDhKOGwHShplJW37YCb0rr5mnLsZBUyiqeNUbU_cDHDR4mnmvanwMxZIzIpXH064TzkLZuJJAl70oW9fT_Uc-DmDTeld1tvdPLNw9_m2i6QOHNUlryo/s1600/1106001658a.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCldlwFuLz4of03CRR9k86mYOSLDhKOGwHShplJW37YCb0rr5mnLsZBUyiqeNUbU_cDHDR4mnmvanwMxZIzIpXH064TzkLZuJJAl70oW9fT_Uc-DmDTeld1tvdPLNw9_m2i6QOHNUlryo/s320/1106001658a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538818844423715250" border="0" /></a><br />Yesterday was the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">monthiversary</span> of being in Auckland. I've become quite acquainted with the place. I feel very confident getting lost now, figuring that I'll almost definitely find my way back form wherever I am. I can get from Epsom to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Ponsonby</span> easily, Grey Lynn to St. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Helier's</span> would be no sweat (just a long bike ride) via the waterfront and estuary causeway. In this spirit, I biked around after seeing Play Dads at Epsom branch last weekend and found all sorts of things. First stop was Royal Oak, an area whose business district is dominated by a huge roundabout. I got some Goody Gumdrops ice cream at Ollie's. It tasted like, and I mean this in a nice way, really sweet, delicious minty toothpaste.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEido22JXyDbJ2CQ5GSxQVChZ_gQtXZjzKYttPiBanXfYRVbK2_v27AMyuWj10hf3cF5h4qbFucBHiYAkMqPYKVPbEpCu3_BDECDAEI3IwNZnqOs1O7igu2cI2hTgc9SikvrquVJCwzRALs/s1600/1106001740.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEido22JXyDbJ2CQ5GSxQVChZ_gQtXZjzKYttPiBanXfYRVbK2_v27AMyuWj10hf3cF5h4qbFucBHiYAkMqPYKVPbEpCu3_BDECDAEI3IwNZnqOs1O7igu2cI2hTgc9SikvrquVJCwzRALs/s320/1106001740.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538818846579052418" border="0" /></a>Along <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Balmoral</span> road I rode, taking breaks every now and then to stop into stores. I went into a toy store that advertised a huge Lego collection. There were all kinds of sets! Star Wars, Prince of Persia, other space and firehouse sets, just everything. And then I came across this advent calendar set. I don't know where to begin with what is confusing about it, but I would include the mom holding a huge smoking sausage and the flying robot rat over the tree.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1d8koEqLs2GJahh0ySZXvelFPHGYh5s7q6SdjEe5Wjf1c4-VtR2zbC68DljmdFmUOe34lebjkZVIjk6xoxPPNcJX8irX2cx460cg7S6PtS-l7-D9410s5dOeCXuvIxuNZzpl_QVQLmb4/s1600/1106001836.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1d8koEqLs2GJahh0ySZXvelFPHGYh5s7q6SdjEe5Wjf1c4-VtR2zbC68DljmdFmUOe34lebjkZVIjk6xoxPPNcJX8irX2cx460cg7S6PtS-l7-D9410s5dOeCXuvIxuNZzpl_QVQLmb4/s320/1106001836.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538818852136902210" border="0" /></a>I continued on my way west and got to the Pt. Chevalier. It's pronounced "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">chev</span>-a-LEER", rather than "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">che</span>-VAL-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">yey</span>". There were a group of people playing music and doing <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">capoeria</span> (I don't even know the pronunciation for that) at the park near the water. It was fun to watch, this fight-dancing. It seemed in a really fun spirit to cartwheel and kick to the rapid drumbeats and high warbles of the long, bow-like sting instruments. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Anyway, I point out the pronunciation of the place because I kept thinking of this Marx Brothers piece while I was there. From <span style="font-style: italic;">Monkey Business</span>.<br /><br /><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7YNiedDhsAs?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7YNiedDhsAs?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="480"></embed></object><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1SQerI04jH44zNj9wTjmiHw5iyvnuCDzMX3tV_Ec2ukpSTwnkKyF6CDn5sECoxS6V3DOG6yGCofpGzCnwMCBrDuPaHRYMGcjVLwRi-O0FCNL4CTNxZl-aoh-aLa_jBcAjQ7VlaW1qPhk/s1600/1106001843.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1SQerI04jH44zNj9wTjmiHw5iyvnuCDzMX3tV_Ec2ukpSTwnkKyF6CDn5sECoxS6V3DOG6yGCofpGzCnwMCBrDuPaHRYMGcjVLwRi-O0FCNL4CTNxZl-aoh-aLa_jBcAjQ7VlaW1qPhk/s320/1106001843.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538818867376601442" border="0" /></a>The park had trails that led down to the water where people were having enjoying themselves in different ways. Talking, drinking, laying in the sunset, playing touch rugby, listening to music. Many were fishing, like these guys at the bottom of the steps made out of black basalt rocks. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />After all this biking and fun I thought I'd cap it off with a tasty meal out. I decided to stop at Murder Burger (the one with the cat!). Good choice. The burger was huge but thin, so it didn't make me feel like I had a huge lump in my stomach afterward.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8yHv04bZf08NZ0MSYCchRA7HxBSORau189YjabaIMA2c4PUqoEMqtDqBwnpzgmH_W75nBSu7Dwg9SwC17iT5On7ghFrKiCXnI3SOfmsagqQmPidxsL_2VH0ESZ8tYM9S1eTouJvAIic/s1600/1106002023.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8yHv04bZf08NZ0MSYCchRA7HxBSORau189YjabaIMA2c4PUqoEMqtDqBwnpzgmH_W75nBSu7Dwg9SwC17iT5On7ghFrKiCXnI3SOfmsagqQmPidxsL_2VH0ESZ8tYM9S1eTouJvAIic/s320/1106002023.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538818870141287554" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The sauce was a sort of horseradish mayonnaise. The burger was served with beets on it. The ginger beer was a fizzy, refreshing beverage for the meal and a tired cyclist. The other fabulous detail of the place was that the magazine selection included MAD magazine from January 1980, complete with Carter administration jokes!Hankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00490598895232528728noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23469876410341782.post-55317970249285975232010-11-11T16:44:00.000-08:002010-11-14T17:53:30.979-08:00November 12 - Day Eighteen - Train Station<strong>Practicum Day 18</strong><br /><em>site: City Center</em><br /><em>hours worked: 3</em><br /><em>hours to date: 98</em><br /><br /><br /><p>Today I spent a few hours with Jayne <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Gutry</span>, the training and professional development coordinator for Auckland City Libraries. She'll be joined by a few others now that the councils <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">have</span> merged, but for now she was able to show me the programs she has developed on a wiki:</p><p><a href="http://www.blogger.com/acltrain.pbworks.com">acltrain.pbworks.com</a>. You should check it out. It's public access and Jayne is more than happy to answer questions. I like that she developed the wiki to reflect her professional view of training which is that 70% is learning on the job, 20% is learning from others, and 10% is formal training. This has given some structure to the why and how of training tools and content she has developed. </p><p><strong>Learning on the job<br /></strong>This section has exercises, called <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">BeWise</span>, that will either introduce or remind staff members about library services, for instance, databases. There is almost no way to know how to use every database to its potential, but customers need to have some confidence that we know how to help them find accurate information. Learning how to use a database in order to answer a question does not really accomplish this, so giving staff a manageable way to stay on top of them really helps. The <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">BeWise</span> format is smart. The three sections are: What is it/what does it do?, How does it help customers? and a few exercises.<br />Also collected are the tutorials provided by database companies themselves. In another stroke of not-reinventing-the-wheel brilliance, handouts and exercises that are part of all staff training, such as with roving reference, are compiled here so there's no need to worry about keeping your own copy.</p><p>But I think my favorite part of this section is the <a href="http://acldevelopment.blogspot.com/">professional knowledge blog</a> which gets its content from the evaluations of workshops attended by staff. So instead of going to a conference and saying, "I learned a lot of x,y and z" to managers, the blog keeps a record and opens it to any staff who care to know.</p><p><strong>Learning from others<br /></strong>The working groups have a wealth of information that seems to covers more orientation or beginning training rather than ongoing professional development. But this is still important. I really liked the <a href="https://acltrain.pbworks.com/w/page/1327725/Reference-Interview-Film-Challenge">reference interview video challenge</a>. Staff were challenged to create a video to illustrate the principles of conducting a good reference interview. Given two hours to write the script at storyboard, a number of departments entered a submission that was judged critically on set criteria, and also popularly. I'd vote for the popular winner too, <em>Reference This!</em></p><p><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pfd3wPpH1t0?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pfd3wPpH1t0?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object></p><p></p><p><strong>Learning formally<br /></strong>The library association here, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">LIANZA</span>, has a <a href="http://www.lianza.org.nz/resources/professional-registration">professional registration program </a>based on core competencies that they call the 'Body of Knowledge'. Training done here in Auckland is related to the points in the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">BOK</span> to help with this process. Staff can also participate in the <a href="https://acltrain.pbworks.com/w/page/1327736/Study-support-scheme">Study Support Scheme</a> which covers a 50% tuition reimbursement upon successful completion of coursework and up to 1 hour per week for study leave. </p><p>In general though, staff members receive training in this mode through workshops either created or organized by the training coordinator on topics like customer service, reader's advisory and web 2.0 skills. </p><p><br /><strong>in the staff room<br /></strong><em>hot chocolates today: 1</em><br /><em>hot chocolates to date: 21</em> </p>Hankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00490598895232528728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23469876410341782.post-66267481263214448602010-11-11T16:42:00.000-08:002010-11-15T01:33:29.332-08:00November 11 - Day Seventeen - Libraries, libraries everywhere<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKu9hH1b1DkKhpSPkZNHma-sV77EfzTqR0ix1ih-ly7gfCoZ53IEHeNHyRKwyUnEp_bWAL6_wwPhe-duRmpc01nOB2rwOkMuLzvQJTweUsOxSh33sdaHYVfjtw5L2p5b0jjZ_imZPR6tY/s1600/1111000930.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKu9hH1b1DkKhpSPkZNHma-sV77EfzTqR0ix1ih-ly7gfCoZ53IEHeNHyRKwyUnEp_bWAL6_wwPhe-duRmpc01nOB2rwOkMuLzvQJTweUsOxSh33sdaHYVfjtw5L2p5b0jjZ_imZPR6tY/s320/1111000930.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539705304446379074" border="0" /></a><strong>Practicum day 17</strong><br /><div><em>sites: St. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Helier's</span>, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Remuera</span>, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Manukau</span> research library, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Clendon</span>, Botany, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Tupu</span></em></div><div><em>hours worked: 8</em></div><div><em>hours to date: 95</em></div><br /><div><br />A brisk walk down to the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Britomart</span> station was the first leg of a long tour of libraries today. Lin and I talked a while about St. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Helier's</span>, the first stop as we waited for the bus. Lin was very familiar with that branch since she used to be the manager there. Under her care, the branch was absolutely transformed into a vibrant place with many programs offered and communities ties developed with local groups and artists.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Xena</span><br /><br />The energy and enthusiasm of the branch is palpable as soon as you walk in. This is entirely due to the omnipresence of Xena, the library cat. And the wonderful staff, who are more than friendly, they are cheerful (although Lin's homecoming might have had a lot to do with this) and busy creating interesting displays for books and programs. The branch advertises itself very well. Children and parents were piling in a full half hour before <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">storytime</span> with the very <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">purply</span> Ms. Chris began. In <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">storytime</span>, we read books about animals and did the Wobbly Woo along with a jam packed corner of kids. Straight from <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">storytime</span> I went to book discussion <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">attended</span> by a dozen distinguished ladies who have some very discriminating tastes in books. St. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">Helier's</span> seems to see patrons from 'nought to ninety' as they say. This branch has a higher than average circulation, due to the collection management and the staff who have a wonderful book-focused interaction with a receptive community.<br /><br /></div><div></div><div>We met Juliana at St. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">Helier's</span> so that she and I could continue on. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">Remuera</span> was the next, brief, stop. The branch is a Carnegie Library, built in that stately, timbered, high ceiling style. The boxy rooms give a sense of order and sensibility to the library. We arrived just after <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error">storytime</span> finished, but we saw the evidence of how well it was enjoyed by the number of books that were being read afterwards by children and parents.<br /><br /></div><div>And that was it for Auckland City libraries today. Off to southern reaches - <a href="http://www.manukau-libraries.govt.nz/EN/Pages/Home.aspx"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">Manukau</span> Libraries</a>. We met up with Jolene at the Research Library which is largely devoted to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">genealogy</span> and local history, and some administrative functions. We didn't stay long, but instead were soon off to three unique and inspiring branches.</div><br /><div>The <a href="http://www.manukau-libraries.govt.nz/EN/About/LocationsAndHours/Pages/TeMatarikiClendonLibrary.aspx">Te <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-error">Matariki</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-error">Clendon</span> branch </a>shares a council-owned building with a rec center. This benefits both with cross use visits. Yes, there are some behavior issues, but what's interesting is the library has chosen to approach this with the view of being a 'community living room' as opposed to being cold and authoritarian about use. The staff, who practice roving reference and have no desk to stop at, encourage a behavior model that is a compromise between the way libraries traditionally ask people to use the space, for instance to sit relatively quietly with materials, and notions that <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span><a href="http://www.manukau-libraries.govt.nz/SiteCollectionImages/Clendon1.jpg?wax-srv=Efun0n64jNeM1ZEVNFRHiQ3A"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 357px; float: left; height: 213px;" alt="" src="http://www.manukau-libraries.govt.nz/SiteCollectionImages/Clendon1.jpg?wax-srv=Efun0n64jNeM1ZEVNFRHiQ3A" border="0" /></a>e community members, many of them Maori and pacific islanders, have about feeling comfortable in their living room. I didn't get all the nuances of this, but one way this happens is through the separation of popular topics of materials - cooking, repair, and gardening - from the rest of the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" class="blsp-spelling-error">dewey</span> shelving. They also have a large collection of Maori and pacific island language books, which is a huge help to literacy in the Tongan and Samoan communities, especially because books published in these languages are so rare. The teen room is also a dark, video-focused space, which any reasonable teenager's room might look like (the picture is from their website).<br /><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7gxtRlAn50KGGYqDiBYsRLbfBYvH3jw7mNd5Y7KEqI3UUSekcVkEtySuhRdjtskbf__JYuCqhCBxkb8O5pghNFQNndz2-hje8So40Lie79UZQb5WHZlDJtEqNwUVbmsC0bEh3AR0h7_U/s1600/1111001526.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7gxtRlAn50KGGYqDiBYsRLbfBYvH3jw7mNd5Y7KEqI3UUSekcVkEtySuhRdjtskbf__JYuCqhCBxkb8O5pghNFQNndz2-hje8So40Lie79UZQb5WHZlDJtEqNwUVbmsC0bEh3AR0h7_U/s320/1111001526.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539705316221399858" border="0" /></a></div><div>The Botany branch is another innovation. It's located <em>in a shopping mall</em>. The branch is staffed with people who are almost totally focused on customer service and everything from look and feel to shelving to programs to partnerships (see the adjoining cafe) is retail focused. The don't charge fees, but they are all about being a cool hang out spot. They show movies for teens, as long as they aren't movies available in the mall's movie theater. Our visit was around after school hours when teens from the high school across the street came dominated the social and study spaces in the branch. We didn't know whether the mall or the library made the first overture in this d<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJxa_2F7gQ_PkObQNUfpvjA1mAdvKUrNeHyudwGRHvgsJxMD4S7e6gR9-P-ZvUrs4GuRidMOQEZtNDamPClTIDn68b4jYKM5vAerWTChgpyI8lxa4s879hIl_1GSZozSdy0DBNUXGEYEI/s1600/1111001514.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJxa_2F7gQ_PkObQNUfpvjA1mAdvKUrNeHyudwGRHvgsJxMD4S7e6gR9-P-ZvUrs4GuRidMOQEZtNDamPClTIDn68b4jYKM5vAerWTChgpyI8lxa4s879hIl_1GSZozSdy0DBNUXGEYEI/s320/1111001514.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539705312147807218" border="0" /></a>eal, but it seems like the mall considered the library to be such an asset that it gave the library an extraordinary deal on rent. I wouldn't be surprised if libraries use this method of placement to enhance retail spaces and to stay in front of customer's minds and attention. You can (sort of) see in the picture how the shelves are labeled with understandable topics, but are still in dewey order.<br /><br /></div><div></div><div>Last but not least we stopped at Jolene's one time home branch, the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_22" class="blsp-spelling-error">Tupu</span> Youth Library. This one is entirely dedicated to children and teen services, and after school the place literally buzzes with projects, clubs and video and children and staff. The <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_23" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">close by</span> elementary schools provide the library with kids who come to do homework, or if they have no homework they work on projects that the staff have developed such as daily <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_24" class="blsp-spelling-error">journaling</span> or investigating Christmas Around the World. This is a little different from <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_25" class="blsp-spelling-error">Akozone</span> in that it is not teacher based or Ministry of Education funded. So why would the kids leave school to do work at the library. For one thing, the staff is incredible, really caring about forming relationships with the children. For another, doing work gets you points, and points gets you invited to nights where the hardwired video game consoles and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_26" class="blsp-spelling-error">tvs</span> are all yours. The library also offers several clubs that kids can belong to like Boys Club (learning about manners), KEWL Club, <a href="http://www.manukau-libraries.govt.nz/EN/Kids/KidsClubs/Pages/KidsClubs.aspx">S.K.I.P. Krew </a>(Saturday Kids, Impossible Projects) and the Books to Movies club. There is a large-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_27" class="blsp-spelling-error">ish</span> collection of children's and teen materials, and even a few adult books, but really the focus of this branch is on children and the community. A very active, amazing, inspiring place.</div><div> </div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong>in the staff room</strong></div><div><em>hot chocolates today: 0. On the go all day!</em></div><div><em>hot chocolates to date: 20</em></div>Hankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00490598895232528728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23469876410341782.post-49742607488615691202010-11-10T16:40:00.000-08:002010-11-14T17:07:28.213-08:00November 10 - Day Sixteen - Akozone<strong>Practicum day 16</strong><br /><em>site: <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Panmure</span> community library</em><br /><em>hours worked: 4</em><br /><em>hours to date: 87</em><br /><br />The water in the estuary near Mission Bay bobbed with a regular bump as Julianna and I took the train across the causeway to one of the southern-most community libraries in the Auckland City region, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Panmure</span>. It's a very different neighborhood than ones I'd seen up to now. A bit rougher in construction of houses and markets, a highly visible religious element and the residents are predominantly of Maori and pacific island ethnicity. Some time ago, the use of the libraries in this area was steadily declining, especially use by children. A nearby branch, Glen <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Innes</span> (IN-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">ESS</span>, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">scottish</span>) began an <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">after school</span> homework program that became known as <a href="http://www.aucklandcitylibraries.com/aboutthelibraries/services/Computers-in-the-library/Akozone-homework-centres.aspx"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Akozone</span></a>. Now, there are five branches that offer the program. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Ako</span> is a Maori concept that can be translated roughly as "learning". It's partially funded by the Ministry of Education to provide refreshments and education to the kids who show up. At <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Panmure</span>, the carrots and apples have to last for the average sixty kids who show up each afternoon. There is one security guard to help the three staff members who help the kids by listening as the kids read to them. For every twenty minutes or so, a child gets a stamp good for free time on the computers. They read fun stuff, Batman and Iron Man comics and easy readers, but this reading out loud gives them a lot of confidence and computer time is a good incentive. There are also structured educational programs that they staff develop, such as activity sheets that explore popular topics such as <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Greek</span> mythology. In turn, the kids create artwork around the topics that is displayed on the walls. This usually all takes places in the first hour of the two hour program.<br /><p>It was comforting to me that some of the things I love doing with kids in America are the same things I got to do in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">Akozone</span>. Listen to boys be smart, or posture or silly and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">arm wrestle</span> with them. Listen to girls be smart, play Connect 4, and look at magazines with them. They liked that I was from America. I liked that they knew <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">hakas</span>. And like all kids, they have to have expectations for their behavior because it can get out of hand. They are learning about hormones in school, which they blame for all their crazy antics. The staff are understanding, but quick to draw the line between goofy and disrespectful.</p><p>On the way home, Julianna and I discussed the idea of tween collections that are currently being trialled at a few branches. There are great reasons for having the collection: there are distinct developmental difference between children, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">tweens</span> and teens, the literature for them is already in the collection, but not <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">separated</span>, and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error">tweens</span> are in a stage of self-discovery and self-direction but not independence, so they really appreciate things that are just for them. The branches with tween collections report an increase in circulation and, more importantly, parents and kids who say that they can find what they are looking for more easily. I think the tween reader phase is worth a lot of consideration because there is a lot of evidence to show that once kids are independently mobile, around the time they become teens, library use falls off. Being more visible and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">accommodating</span> to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error">tweens</span> may encourage them to continue to find the library relevant as they grow into teenagers. </p><p><strong>in the staff room<br /></strong><em>hot chocolates today: 1<br />hot chocolates to date: 20</em></p>Hankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00490598895232528728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23469876410341782.post-51122967932225947692010-11-09T12:47:00.000-08:002010-11-13T02:46:19.693-08:00November 9th - Day Fifteen<div><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/Purple_Swamphen_-_Pukeko02.jpg/400px-Purple_Swamphen_-_Pukeko02.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 239px; float: left; height: 389px;" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/Purple_Swamphen_-_Pukeko02.jpg/400px-Purple_Swamphen_-_Pukeko02.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong>Practicum Day 14</strong><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><em>site: City center, Parnell branch</em></div><div><br /></div><div><em>hours today: 3</em></div><div><br /></div><div><em>hours to date: 83</em></div><div><br /><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/Tui_on_flax.jpg/800px-Tui_on_flax.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 382px; float: left; height: 211px;" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/Tui_on_flax.jpg/800px-Tui_on_flax.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div>Today was, yet again, a wonderful <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">storytime</span>. This time was all about birds. I'm not really a bird man (legal or otherwise) but I have marvelled at the birds here in New Zealand. I think that I'm so used to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">pidgeons</span> and sparrows that birds seeing colorful birds around town like the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">pukeko</span> (left) or <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">tui</span> (above) are really exciting. New Zealand has no indigenous mammals, except some bats who got really lost, and it seems like in their <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">absence</span> birds had a chance to flourish. Of course there is the cute <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">li'l</span> kiwi and the ominous <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">moa</span>, too, both examples of flightless birds. <span style="font-style: italic;">Watch out for that ominous moa, tourists!</span><br /></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjku_fO2Mi0wR1qi-N9kyVgx_8U-RlqFeZOAl3quZdSd_O51_qDVWFxVxIRvQ4QzfWc7fqttUqI-fn8zBqYx6NhY9AB6_5Zdit1AXLgndesC1y7Nt9gXl2UUoiHHBOD4qzHPYx1NB9f7s/s1600/1107001515.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjku_fO2Mi0wR1qi-N9kyVgx_8U-RlqFeZOAl3quZdSd_O51_qDVWFxVxIRvQ4QzfWc7fqttUqI-fn8zBqYx6NhY9AB6_5Zdit1AXLgndesC1y7Nt9gXl2UUoiHHBOD4qzHPYx1NB9f7s/s320/1107001515.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538983187115834418" border="0" /></a></div><div>Anyway, so <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">storytime</span> was about birds and the weirdest flightless bird of all was the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">storytime</span> bird who came to read stories like <a href="http://search.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/?itemid=library/marc/supercity-iiib2502980"><em>Time for Bed Little Kiwi</em></a><em>, </em>a fun lift-the-flap that searches all of Little Kiwi's hiding spots only to find them taken up by other native birds. It was fun to put in out right and left wings when we did the hokey-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">pokey</span>.<br /><br />Afterwards, I rode around to the Parnell community library just to explore a little bit. It's a very cozy branch in a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">heritage</span> building with endows it with stately architecture but restricts the space it occupies. This building is very close to downtown and the museum (where I saw the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">moa</span>!) and is heavily trafficked. I met with Jan and Lynn, two of the librarians. They gave me some feedback about the effects of the merger for a small branch. Apart from the nearly ubiquitous increase in circulation, holds and returns, there is also a sharp increase in new registrations for library cards. Jan told me that the people signing up seem to be those who work in the Parnell area, but live elsewhere. With the merger, they don't have to choose between waiting until the weekend to use the library or pay fees, now it's more <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">convenient</span> for them to stop by at lunch or <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">after work</span>. An interesting benefit of the merger.</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><strong>in the staff room</strong></div><div><br /></div><div><em>hot chocolates today: 1 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">storytime</span> prep chocolate</em></div><div><br /></div><div><em>hot chocolates to date: 19</em></div></div>Hankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00490598895232528728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23469876410341782.post-86642932062334834332010-11-07T15:42:00.000-08:002010-11-09T02:28:36.760-08:00November 6th Day Fourteen - Play Dads<strong>Practicum day 14</strong><br /><br /><em>Site: Epsom community library</em><br /><br /><em>practicum hours worked: 1</em><br /><br /><em>practicum hours to date: 80</em><br /><br /><em></em><br /><br /><br />Play Dads is a special storytime aimed at dads and male caregivers offered every fortnight. The content is modeled from Wriggle & Rhyme (the motion and music early literacy program). The session that I attended (and yes, hokey-pokeyed at) was presented by two male librarians at the same time! I think this is special because it gives a strong sense of male participation in early childhood development, and it heightens the feeling of a group rather than a presenter and audience. The songs, fingerplays and props used are all simple and familair but the attendance, typically 20-25 is all adult males with babies aged from 0-2. It was simply a very special and in some ways ingenious effort to target dads.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>in the staff room</strong><br /><br /><em>hot chocolates today: 0 (I had one but it was Milo, a mix I made that didn't taste as great as the regular hot chocolate so I'm not counting it)</em><br /><br /><em>hot chocolates to date: 18</em>Hankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00490598895232528728noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23469876410341782.post-77522935134333544802010-11-04T23:04:00.000-07:002010-11-12T19:20:09.498-08:00November 5th - Day Thirteen - Community Library Tour<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHSlCfqu3E7A338sYIuCPKWFxuIPS1ko_wS7NUO34TjEaElkiFIPCpL9f1B98Gy-5zc9VLu4LB-V0r-9UW-tll9s4TGhinlIxYiS0O5gZrwHdfBv5y1JLh0WJjdnHxO0ZQvYNPhG47G4g/s1600/1105000943a.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHSlCfqu3E7A338sYIuCPKWFxuIPS1ko_wS7NUO34TjEaElkiFIPCpL9f1B98Gy-5zc9VLu4LB-V0r-9UW-tll9s4TGhinlIxYiS0O5gZrwHdfBv5y1JLh0WJjdnHxO0ZQvYNPhG47G4g/s320/1105000943a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538850691543177506" border="0" /></a><strong>Practicum Day 13<br /></strong><em>site: Birkenhead, Leys, Onehunga, Mt Roskill community libraries</em><br /><em>hours worked: 7<br />hours to date: 79<br /><br /></em><em></em><em><strong>*warning*</strong></em><br /><em>If it's snowing where you are reading this, then you may want to skip the next paragraph<br /></em><em></em><br />The Auckland Libraries will be starting summer reading very soon! The title of the program is <em>Hot Summer, Cool Books </em>which will build on the theme of kiwiana (all things New Zealand Aotearoa). The idea is to get kids enjoying reading and to use staff time to engage children in discussion rather than metrics. There are no registrations or check-ins, but there are three tic-tac-toe boards that have activities on them that can be stamped when completed. For instance, there are boxes for "I read a..." and "I read to..." and "I drew a picture...". The cards are directed to younger children, older children, and parents. Each completed card can be submitted for a drawing to win tickets to a place to have a fun experience, like the zoo. Each time a stamp is issued, a sticker is also given that can be put anywhere on the child's rainbow-adorned reading certificate.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitOtivS1xpM6fZMV4CP4g8n8-m_emCoGC8MtWmzDdisfIMgdBg7uXqUm0_aXRpMhi27eq2gKxOIL4GdyQG0-Jb2a3jx-BIr0ozTm2DeEabZFnC4-AFEWSP-1_0EAa6PcQBRWCw8pafqFY/s1600/1105000946a.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitOtivS1xpM6fZMV4CP4g8n8-m_emCoGC8MtWmzDdisfIMgdBg7uXqUm0_aXRpMhi27eq2gKxOIL4GdyQG0-Jb2a3jx-BIr0ozTm2DeEabZFnC4-AFEWSP-1_0EAa6PcQBRWCw8pafqFY/s320/1105000946a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538850698642314290" border="0" /></a>With the prototype documents in hand Julianna, Lin and I spent the day visiting several branches. We started at Birkenhead, part of the North Shore libraries. This was the first branch I had visited, and it happens to be in another council (but now part of the new large regional system). Not quite a year old, the award winning architecture presented a very bright, airy and natural feeling using interior light colored wood and brick. The ceiling was visible from the first floor because the second floor was only partially built out. From the second floor you could see beautiful views of the city through a strip of perfectly placed windows set among cutout work that resembled tree branches.<br />There was also ample space alloted for the <a href="http://www.cab.org.nz/Pages/home.aspx">Citizen's Advice Bureau</a>, a NON-governmental service that is "somewhere people could go to learn about their rights and obligations and also how to use this information to good effect to get the best outcomes. " The trained volunteer staff helps anyone with tenancy, employment, money, or legal issues that arise. For free. I think this sort of community focused, information based service would be successful in any American library. (The CAB is another area tended to by the Community Outreach team at City center). In addition to this, the library provides space for <a href="http://www.plunket.org.nz/">Plunket</a> services, which is the largest community resource for children's health and well-being under the age of 5. It provides health information and reference similar to the CAB for legal issues. It seems such a perfect match to offer these types of services in a public library.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTLAgSp1SdTUvet_Fnf_OSLl6OT3GXNLPicnIJKHT1CuS3EppBQl1XBAiX9vson9e8KKL0oYkr0b0rMxEhcu5-WnnI352tbiUZp9258KjG6K_0MjrSBhTuTySq0pIGdMgp758BuneOWyg/s1600/1105001203.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTLAgSp1SdTUvet_Fnf_OSLl6OT3GXNLPicnIJKHT1CuS3EppBQl1XBAiX9vson9e8KKL0oYkr0b0rMxEhcu5-WnnI352tbiUZp9258KjG6K_0MjrSBhTuTySq0pIGdMgp758BuneOWyg/s320/1105001203.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538850701531676178" border="0" /></a>Our next stop was to the oldest library in continuous operation in Auckland. The <a href="http://www.aucklandcitylibraries.com/populartopics/resourcepages/localhistory/suburbhistories/leysinstitutehistory.aspx">Leys Institute</a> was built in 1905 as a place of learning and discussion, and it was also the site of the first children's library in Australasia! The building has some very old parts to it inlcuding a wall in the basement where every visiting author has signed. It's very full. The architecture of the building has so much character and the community uses the location heavily. The storytimes are crowded to capacity and among the discussions there are strategies to handle attendance that exceeds the health and safety requirements for the rooms.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0194O7z8U5B08u8uRriZX3Jm9LR10hgsprF6dCC9-9bpX5qFMfTcEx-GLrlC1vPZo68dqgKNqu1bqn36hn2k04vF3FYtWn3biGExObqnIQiSgz_9SMjRDoEN22OpdJnVzLCgtmXTMiQ/s1600/1105001204.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0194O7z8U5B08u8uRriZX3Jm9LR10hgsprF6dCC9-9bpX5qFMfTcEx-GLrlC1vPZo68dqgKNqu1bqn36hn2k04vF3FYtWn3biGExObqnIQiSgz_9SMjRDoEN22OpdJnVzLCgtmXTMiQ/s320/1105001204.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538850704462745010" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">children's room at Ley's Institute</span><br />Further down the road we came to Onehunga which has extraordinarily high borrowing rates, exceeding the rest of the branches in a recent adult reading program by some 400 entires. The users of the branch are also interested in community events and especially local history. The library offers a storytime, entirely in Chinese, every fortnight. Another special feature is the way the library shares space with the Onehunga community center, which offers art, fitness and sports classes. All of these things makes the library very well attended.<br /><br />Finally we came to Mt. Roskill which is the largest of the community libraries. They have a high teen patron attendance and have started a number of successful programs to engage them. The most successful teen programs seem to be ones where teens are presenting to themselves. For instance, a recent program had a teen who was a successful cartoonist present a program about drawing cartoons to her peers. Having teens present to peers seems like a model worth exploring because often popular topics have more to do with friendships than the topics themselves. Another observation of note is that the Chinese collection and Maori collection are both as beefed up as the teen collection at this branch. However, similar to City Center, the Chinese collection circulates much more frequently and the Maori collection tends to be underused.<br /><br /><strong>in the staff room:</strong><br /><em>hot chocolates today: 1</em><br /><em>hot chocolates to date: 18</em>Hankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00490598895232528728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23469876410341782.post-45690885000019587452010-11-03T22:46:00.000-07:002010-11-07T15:35:41.912-08:00November 4th - Day Twelve<a href="http://www.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=9780060282707/mc.gif&upc=&oclc=&client=elgar"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 169px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=9780060282707/mc.gif&upc=&oclc=&client=elgar" /></a> <strong>Practicum Day 12<br /></strong><em>site: City Center</em> <div><div><em>hours worked: 5<br />hours to date: 72<br /></em><br />The Freeman's Bay school arranged for a field trip of 130 kids to come to the library today. There is a rule that there must be at least one adult for every ten children and I think that it probably helps with keeping everything safe and on time as much as anything else. Ben, Daniel and I, under Erika's leadership, planned for 8,9, and 10 year-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">olds</span> to learn about the library in a rotation of four activities: taking a tour, exploring non-fiction with a worksheet guide, hearing a story and searching the library for objects shown in a handout called the Discovery Tour. It went well! I enjoyed showing the kids some rare books in the Shades of Grey exhibit and they were quite interested in the non-fiction. I read the story <a href="http://search.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/?itemid=library/marc/supercity-iiib1039526"><em>Wait! No Paint!</em></a><em> </em>which introduces the idea of an illustrator to three hapless and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">desperate</span> pigs. </div><br /><div>In the afternoon, the Community Outreach team had a staff meeting. Among the topics we discussed was roving reference and the plan to reach out to customers where they happen to be on the floor in addition to staffing a desk where they might find us. I think this trend of opening library service to customers more precisely when and how they need it will probably continue as it is one of the main ways that libraries can be of a clear benefit in a time when it's so easy to search google on your blackberry, or to just be satisfied with what you find and potentially miss out on the plenty in the library.</div><div> </div><div><strong>in the staff room</strong></div><div><em>hot chocolates today: 2</em></div><div><em>hot chocolates to date: 17</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>AND....</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div>there was a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">surprise</span> at lunchtime. The Indian festival of lights, Diwali, is wrapping up and several staff members arranged for a potluck lunch feast of delicious <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Indian</span> food. My favorite was the extra spicy <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">biryani</span> and the smoked fish rice.</div></div>Hankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00490598895232528728noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23469876410341782.post-67386459001715258332010-11-03T22:43:00.000-07:002010-11-07T14:52:37.213-08:00November 3rd - Day Eleven<strong>Practicum Day 11</strong><br /><em>site: City Center</em><br /><br /><em>hours worked: 4<br />hours to date: 67<br /></em><br />The City center gets a large number of school visitors every year as they are the largest of the 17 in Auckland, have the largest collections and the most <a href="http://www.aucklandcitylibraries.com/getdoc/c5fcaa9d-a7ad-4133-af5c-1ac001448d41/Special-Collections.aspx">special collections</a>, including the rare books in the Sir George Grey room. Sir George Grey gave the founding donation of early Maori and English documents that are second only to what is collected at the national library in Wellington. This was just part of what I learned in preparation for the school visit of 130 students that are coming to the library tomorrow. I was priviledged to be included on a crack team of school visit specialists (Daniel, Erika and Ben) who would handle the throng. We met to discuss strategy today and came up with a variety of experiences that would encourage eight to ten year-olds to have a positive library experience, and hopefully return often. More on this tomorrow.<br /><br />Because the fee for borrowing books from other councils was eliminated with the merger that took place on Monday, the number of holds placed has skyrocketed. The number of books returned and just the sheer number of visitors has also increased dramatically this week. It seems as though patrons are responding very positively to the change. Allison Dobbie, head of the now 55 branch system gave an initial positive report in <a href="http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10685081">this article</a>. Of course, in order to make these things work, someone has to actually find all of the books and shelve all of the books that are being returned. So to deal with the increase, many staff members from different departments in the City Center came down to circulation to help with checking books in, shelving them and finding books to fill holds. It didn't take anyone more time than they had to spare, usually a hour or half-hour, and I think this pitching in really made a difference for everyone.<br /><br /><br />Lastly today I met with Gerard (Learning Services guru) about the "Book a Librarian" program that I've been mentioning. I really like this service because it is an example of providing professional expertise in a customizable format that really serves patrons when and how the want they are looking for help. Basically the program allows patrons to make a 30 minute appointment with a librarian to get one-on-one help with whatever they might need. Book a Librarian exists to "teach a man to fish", complimenting the "giving a man a fish" service that most patrons need and recieve day to day. Topics predominantly reflect the public computer class topics such as learning software, signing up for email, writing a resume, or navigating trademe (which is like craigslist). Sometimes a patron will want to learn how to do online searching or how to use a particular database. These more in depth questions are perfect for the service. Really in depth research, like geneaology or microfilm scanning, are refered up to the <a href="http://www.aucklandcitylibraries.com/getdoc/2fd113de-0929-470e-9217-3afbbcd9945f/aucklandresearchcentre.aspx">Auckland Research Centre</a>.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>in the staff room</strong><br /><em>hot chocolates today: just 1</em><br /><em>hot chocolates to date: 15</em>Hankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00490598895232528728noreply@blogger.com0