A New Discovery…

I discovered something new yesterday. I went to the Tacoma Library in search of some audiobooks like I was talking about in my post yesterday. The Tacoma Library is a different system than the Pierce County Library system so I needed to get a new card.

Part of the process of getting a library card at the Tacoma Library is they give you a quick overview of how long you are allowed to check out each type of media, among other things. The librarian that helped me finished with the standard information then asked what it was I was looking to find. I explained that I clean all day and spend way too much time in my head, was bored, and was looking for some audiobooks to feed my brain while working. “What types of audiobooks?”

“Languages, small business…anything that can feed my mind while I’m working.”

He agreed that listening to audio files while working with my hands all day was a great idea and began to list off the types of audio learning formats they have and suggested I go to the reference desk. He informed me that the people at the reference desk were really great at getting people to the type of information they were looking for. I was already distracted because he had mentioned these mp3 players that are loaded with a book or subject that can be checked out for three weeks at a time. All you needed was 1 AAA battery and to plug in your headphones. WHAT???

This sounded like a brilliant idea. I headed straight for the display he had pointed out to see what was available. There wasn’t a whole lot that I was interested in checking out from the selection but I chose one: The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman.  Its about learning the different languages/actions that express love to each person. I’ll let you know what I think of it when I’m done.

What a genius idea. And convenient. This little mp3 player isn’t much so I doubt they experience loss on these much if at all. All that is on there is the book that has been loaded, the controls for playing the audio file, power button…I’m not sure how you would use this otherwise. It is almost as if these little devices were designed specifically for this use, and, for all I know, they were.

There is no downloading to my computer then loading to my microSD card. Plug and play. Love it! My only hope is that they get a better selection of titles for them. I would check these out exclusively.

On another note, I am extremely emotional this morning. Nothing like crying for unknown reasons as I make my coffee. I don’t know if it is the weather, the change of seasons, the struggle with quitting smoking, exhaustion from work, all of these, or some other reason I am unaware of at the moment that has got me so emotional. Maybe it is just a stress relief.

I don’t like being so emotional. I always feel like others see this as weakness and my opinion or ideas or knowledge gets discredited too easily simply because I’m having a day. Its frustrating and usually just leaves me feeling even more emotional.

I guess its a good thing I have this mp3 to listen to today. It will act as a buffer zone for me. Yeah, I guess its kind of like hiding but it is also a bit like protecting my vulnerable self. If I’m not a part of the world around me because I’m lost in what is streaming through my ears then I can’t get hurt by…well, everything. Its that type of emotional day for me. The wind off the wings of a dragonfly can hurt me today.

And, now, the day begins…