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This website is an informal communication forum for staff members of the University of Oregon Library Staff Association. Contents and opinions expressed herein or on linked personal or external pages are those of individual authors and do not represent official statements, policies, or positions of the Library, the University of Oregon, Oregon University System, or State of Oregon.

Rain, Rock, River

I often dream about fish. Big fish, little fish, shining, iridescent, smoothly slipping, though secret waters finning, hidden fish, holding the key to every desire, the longed-for answer to every puzzle. In my dreams, fish frolic in the deep green pools beyond my reach, the water as warm and lively as the blood in my veins.

My fishing jones makes no sense to my husband. Here we are, in the truck, headed for a "good wading spot" on the Mckenzie river for the afternoon. Tod hates fishing. I only bring him as a body guard, not because he is physically imposing, but because he is so affable, that would-be rapists and serial killers are likely to stop and chat with him, allowing me ample time to get away.

Right now, Tod is singing the theme music from Fishing The West. This TV show is so dull, that even die-hard fishermen won't admit they watch it. The theme music is a stirring anthem, and Tod composed these lyrics for it:

Fishing the West! Fishing the West! Oh, fishing, fishing the West!
Fishing the West! Fishing the West! Oh, fishing, fishing the West!
Oh, Fishing the West! Fishing, fishing, fishing, FISHING THE WEST!!!

"You're mocking me, aren't you?" I say.
"Nope!" responds Tod sweetly, although he continues humming the music.

By now we've reached a favorite fishing spot of mine, a boat launch, although we have no boat to launch. There's a bridge overhead, with a deep bridge hole in the river underneath. There are some shallows upstream, with some good rocks and fallen trees, hidey-holes for fish, and a gravel bar near shore. It's a particularly good place when it's been raining a little, because no one wants to launch their boat on a rainy day. The fish seem to enjoy a light rain, too. They seem friskier and more care-free.

Not only does my husband hate to fish, but my children are against fishing, too. My son wants to know why I enjoy senselessly torturing small, helpless creatures? Am I a sadist?

"Oh, for heaven's sake! For all you know, the fish are trying to pull me in. They're not that bright, and they are carnivores," I joke.

My son doesn't think it's funny. He thinks it's particularly cruel that I'm tricking the fish into thinking they're about to grab a tasty snack, when they're really about to get a sharp stab in the mouth, and a brief but terrifying journey to the world of giant, scary predators.

It's true that fishing has its cruel aspects. I won't pretend that there isn't a sharp hook involved. But, I argue with my son, I don't enjoy the fish's pain. I enjoy the fish's life. After all, a fish is a primitive creature. It only knows four things really well: find food; find a mate; hide; swim. Its brain is just a tiny nub at the end of its spinal cord. So, the rest of the fish is filled to the brim with pure, sparkling life. The fish swims and is, and that's just about all there is to it. I like this about fish.

Right here I should assert that I'm not a vampire. I'm not a predator, either; I can buy all the fish I want at Albertson's. I'm an ordinary human being in search of meaning of life, just like every one else.

On this trip, the only creature being senselessly tortured is me. I'm learning fly-fishing. Today, my first cast snaps the fly into the back of my head. After I unhook myself, I switch to roll casting, which keeps the fly at a safe distance from my person. After a few deft rolls, I scramble up fly, leader and line so effectively that the whole thing has to come out of the water. I sit on the bank getting myself straightened out, with my back to Tod, who is prudently silent.

In order to catch a fish, here's what you have to do: you have to pretend to be an inanimate object. Rain falls, wind blows, rocks sit, water gurgles. None of these things alarm fish. It helps to blend in. You need to pretend that you were extruded from a volcanic firepit millennia ago, and were cooled and smoothed and shaped over the eons by the very stream in which you now stand. It helps if you can stop thinking and let the sound of the river trickle in one ear and out the other.

Just when you've "gone basaltic," at the point when your mind has accepted those tiny particles of algae and moss that have begun to adhere to you, zing! a live current is tugging at your rod! In a flash, you realize that you've just been teetering on the brink between Something and Nothing. Right there, at the fissure of nonexistence, is where the real pleasure of fishing lies. I'm sure most fishermen would tell you the same thing.

I unhook the fish and watch it flip and disappear. What a lot of life in a little package! Where did it come from? Where is it going? As far up and down the river as I can see, there are thousands of hidden fish. Each has its own secret reservoir of vitality. I leave the river with heavy regret. For a brief, tantalizing moment, I was given a glimpse of the Great Fish Secret.

I'm hooked.

And now for the local news:

The LSA House Committee is once again looking for a reasonably priced (that is, free) sofa in good condition for the Science library staff lounge. Please contact Emily Glenn (x1910) if you have a nice sofa 6'-8' long in any color scheme to give away.

The Web/Newsletter Committee wants all Library staff to know that we will try to take photos of most library events for the newsletter. If you prefer not to have your photo published in the web newsletter, please let us know.

Writers -- Poets -- Artists! The Web/Newsletter Committee is searching for original short stories, poems and computer art for the first annual library staff literary review. Former staff members, and friends and family of staff are also encouraged to submit their work. The review will appear online in the fall. Contact Lonni Sexton for details.

Another heartfelt plea from the Housing Committee -- don't forget that the monthly staff lounge cleanup party takes place on the last Friday of every month at 2:30. If you use the staff lounge -- even if you don't -- please consider volunteering one afternoon to help out. It only takes a half an hour, and chocolate is provided! No reservations necessary!

LRS

Catalog Dept. Celebrates Darlene Perry's Retirement

All Library staff were invited to a potluck party on February 25 to celebrate the retirement of Darlene B. Perry, who has been a cataloger here since January 1, 1973. In keeping with tradition, there was more food than attendees could possibly eat, and plenty of socializing. The tables were decked out festively with white tablecloths and vases of spring flowers, and a delicate orange punch with violet petals floating in it was both beautiful and tasty.

Darlene has tried to keep a low profile over the years, but many library staff know her for her (often ribald) sense of humour, giant orange tree, and incredible cataloging statistics. A random sample of other catalogers elicited these descriptions of her stats: "amazing", "prolific", "awesome", "copious", "astonishing".......well, you get the picture! In a short speech her current supervisor on the English/Western European Languages Cataloging Team, acting Catalog Department head Lori Robare, thanked her for the contribution she has made over the years to the Library's catalog just in terms of sheer number of items cataloged alone. She has always had more items cataloged per month than any other paraprofessional or faculty cataloger in the department!

Those attending the event included Technical Services and Public Services staff, Technical Services AUL Mark Watson, Darlene's partner Jim Powell, and a number of retirees, including Pat Bates, Guido Palandri and his wife, Pat Smith, Mary Stovall, Lu Walker, Gail Wickstrom, and Jane Younger. George Shipman made a brief informal appearance as well.

Your reporter asked Darlene to reveal some of the highlights of her time here. One of them was when the database went online - no more typing (or filing) cards! Another was gaining Lori as a supervisor.

Although she's looking forward to time off, Darlene, whose position will be frozen to new hiring, is not deserting us entirely. Lori and other co-workers have convinced her to return as a temporary, part-time cataloger. This should help us maintain a decent level of cataloging activity for new western-language monographs, while keeping her from being too bored in her free time. Her first day back as a temp will be April 5, 1999. We'll have to start planning a welcome back party!

hms

Art Show

The LSA art show, held in the Browsing Room on Wednesday, February 17th, was a great success. At least 19 people brought in arts and crafts items they'd made, and at least 2 people said "DANG! I forgot! Next year I'll bring my ----!" So we WILL do it next year, probably again in February. You talented folks can start planning for it now.


Artists included: Nancy Loya, Shirien Stevens, Michiyo Goble, Yoon Kim, Aimee Yogi, Marion Obar, Carrie Yates, Richard Bear, Colleen Bell, David Landazuri, Jean Murphy, Jill Holman, Todd Hannon (who brought his wife's beautiful handmade note cards), Duffy Knaus, Mary Weed, Marilyn Mohr, Catherine Heising, Susan Stumpf, and Susan Storch -- I hope I didn't miss anyone. The LSA program committee thanks all the participants, and hopes you all come back next year. (But you have to bring a different item!)

Please take a look at our pictures of the art works displayed!

--Jean Murphy

Been to an interesting conference? Send us a brief report for publication in the next newsletter. Thanks!

Not FIT for Man, Nor Beast

How does the weather affect your fitness program? Or, if you don't have a program per se, how do the elements interact with your ability to get some exercise? As the rain has poured down this past month, I've stewed, moaned, complained and generally grumped about the bad weather. Although I have the option of going to the gym, my primary mode of getting exercise is jogging outdoors. With the near constant precipitation, this generally means mucky trails, heavily puddled sidewalks and all around waterlogged conditions. Just try and get the webbing of your running shoes clean after stepping off the pavement onto what looks like grass but turns out to be a green shoe-sucking bog into which your foot disappears beneath oozing goo-that really burns my buttons! Or, on a longer run, you start to get the feeling that the rain-soaked clothes are about to crush you under their increasingly soggy weight. Or, because I wear glasses, there are those times when the combination of the rain and temperature have me looking out at an already dismal world through two steam covered, speckled windshields that can't be dried off for lack of a dry patch on a long-sleeve shirt. At these times, my wistful longing for the halcyon days of summer and early fall transmogrifies into a palpable, visceral lust for sun, light, blue sky and most of all dry heat. Like a King Lear of the trail, I rage against the cosmic injustice of being marooned in the fungal, moss-covered armpit of North America, somehow fated to run out my days in the dark, dank depths of winter. Birds and whales have it figured out. They leave. They're out'a here. Come to think of it, my next run may just head off in a southerly direction.

On the Fitness Corner feature page this month, your weather addled editor looks at antioxidants, turns the Fitness Profile spotlight on Paul Frantz and passes along a 14 carrot gold tip from Catherine Heising. As always, the Fitness Corner editor would like to hear from you!

Included in the crowd (the third largest in the history of women's basketball at MacCourt) was a contingent of Library staff with their friends and families. Staff members "answered the call" to support the lady Ducks, and added their voices to thousands of others cheering for Oregon. With binoculars and popcorn in hand, we got caught up in the excitement of seeing a fast-paced, well-played game destined to come to the best conclusion possible--another Ducks win!

And there was the moment when Beth Bonamici (wife of Andrew Bonamici) caught one of the t-shirts thrown into the stands by team members and cheerleaders. The t-shirts are signed by members of the basketball team. The one caught by Beth was missing two signatures, but that's okay. It gives her a reason to go to the NCAA pairing party on March 7th, where she'll try to get the others.

The half-time show provided more entertainment, including a court performance by dozens of children dubbed "future Ducks cheerleaders". The youngsters did a lively choreagraphed dance to the accompaniment of "Rockin' Robin".

All in all, a successful outing.

Come and see more pictures of the game.

--mcg

Dues and Don'ts

The Web/Newsletter committee would like to give enthusiastic thanks to everyone who has contributed to the Library Staff Association this year! The following departments and units deserve special attention. All LSA members have paid their dues in:

Documents/Microforms Department
Information Technology Center
Interlibrary Loan Department
Office of the Librarian

Bindery Prep Unit
Processing Unit

You should all be experiencing a warm fuzzy feeling right now.

The Library Staff Association provides a number of comforts that are easy to overlook. Did you know that LSA pays for the newspapers that miraculously appear every day in the Knight Library Staff Lounge? Speaking of staff lounges, the LSA House Committee has dedicated themselves to the beautifying of not only the Knight Lounge, but is also beginning to organize improvements in the branch library lounges as well! And of course everyone would agree that the Gonzo Review is a fun and exciting LSA event! Then there is the Holiday Potluck, the Spring Social (often termed the retirement tea), and numerous extras like the recent Art Show, or the Library Knight at the Ems. Many of these entertainments require a large financial committment, and almost fifty percent of our funding comes from your dues! I know I may seem to be over-dues-ing it, but you all should know what your yearly contribution pays for. Of course, you've figured out by now that I have an ulterior motive. Anyone who has not yet paid dues this year is cordially invited to contact Kathy Wittwer, LSA Treasurer, in Administrative Services (6-3046), located on the ground floor of the Knight Library next to the Student Lounge. Thanks again! -Chelle

March staff profiles:

Debi Baker, Orbis Technician, Systems Department

Susan Storch, University Archivist, Special Collections