The Move Is Complete

I'm back! My move to Bradley Beach, NJ is complete and I am updating you from my new Internet connection here. I have moved into my new place at 100 Cliff Avenue and I'm ready to start work at West Long Branch PL on December 2nd! The move went very smoothly and I'd like to thank all of the good people at Butler Ridge Apartments and Terrace Lake Apartments for their cooperation. Really nice people on both ends. I'd also like to thank Mike Ferrara of Middletown, NJ for providing me with expert moving service. If you would like Mike to handle your move, please contact me and I will put you in touch with him.

Goodbye Wayne Public Library

Yesterday was my last day at Wayne Public Library. I miss you guys already. Now it's time to prepare for the next episode, folks. So, I'm packing, packing, packing. I'm knee-deep into getting my stuff together for my November 25th move from Butler, NJ to Bradley Beach, NJ. It's coming along slowly. For an update on how I'm doing, call me at 973-283-9743.

Audioslave

I have heard the entire Audioslave CD and I am happy to report that it is great! It sounds just like you'd think it would: the perfect mix of Chris Cornell and the remaining members of Rage Against the Machine. Sounds a little like Soundgarden and a lot like Rage. There are some great songs on the album and anyone who likes Soundgarden or Rage will love Audioslave. The self-titled Audioslave CD will be in stores Tuesday November 19th. Thanks to Sony for sending all of us Audioslave street team members a special "thank you": a collectible Cochise CD single. It pays to promote!

DavidLisa.com Presentation

My thanks to the NJLA Emerging Leaders program and Connie Paul for asking me to talk about DavidLisa.com at today's last seminar meeting. It was a great session and I had a great time talking about my pride and joy, this website. I hope that those of you who came to the presentation went away with a new understanding of my little website and that you will make an attempt to imitate what I have done here on your own. It's definitely worth it from a self-promotion standpoint and a really enjoyable thing to do with your free time.

8 Mile

Just got back from seeing 8 Mile. It was exceptional...I loved it. By all means, go and see this movie this first weekend and help contribute to what will surely be a big, big box office total. Eminem is fabulous and you don't want to miss his performance. His portrayal of this character is understated but powerful. It reminded me of our first glimpse of Sylvester Stallone at the height of his powers in Rocky and you surely get the feeling that Eminem is capable of much more. Plus, it's a fun, uplifting movie that suggests that you can accomplish anything if you have the desire and dedication.

Anime Explosion

Finished up another LJ review yesterday. It will turn out to be review # 32. The book was Patrick Drazen's Anime Explosion! The What? Why? & Wow! of Japanese Animation. This is the second book on anime that I have reviewed for LJ. Anyone who knows me knows that I have been a big anime fan for many years. My favorite anime film is Akira and I just love the Project A-Ko series. My daughter Jennifer and I used to watch them together back in the Dave's Comics & Collectibles days and that was a lot fun. Upcoming reviews: I will be reviewing Beck's Sea Change for Figgle.com soon, so look for it! And, yes, I will be continuing to review for Library Journal after I make the transition to West Long Branch. Wouldn't think about not continuing!

Feedback?

Hey folks...I'm not hearing much feedback from you guys! E-mail me and let me know if you like what I'm doing here! Use the mailform if you need to. I can see some of you coming back repeatedly through the stats but I won't know what you think about this unless you tell me. Thanks.

Onward!

West Long Branch Update: Next week will be my last at Wayne Public Library. My last day is November 15th. I will truly miss working there and all of my co-workers and the wonderful WPL clientele. What a great place to work. Yet, I am eager to move on to this new challenge and I am looking forward to leading the West Long Branch Public Library to a new era of greatness. I will be posting a West Long Branch FAQ page in the near future, which will include some photos and updates on my move. Look for it soon.

The White Stripes

The White Stripes. If you haven't yet discovered this wonderful band from Detroit, Michigan composed of brother and sister (or is it ex-husband and wife?) Jack and Meg White, then please run to your local record store immediately and pick up their newest CD White Blood Cells. A newly repackaged, bargain-priced version of this release came out recently...it includes a free, limited-edition DVD (including videos for Dead Leaves and Dirty Ground, Hotel Yorba, Fell In Love With a Girl, and We're Going to Be Friends in addition to two unreleased tracks). Who would have thought that a stripped-down, two-piece, guitar and drum band could be so intriguing? Bravo Jack and Meg! Listen to the NPR interview with The White Stripes here (you'll need RealPlayer).

Drumroll Please...

Here is the announcement that we all have been waiting for: I have been hired as Director of the West Long Branch Public Library in West Long Branch, NJ! I will end my tenure at Wayne Public Library in the middle of November and start my new position at West Long Branch at the beginning of December. I have found a new place to live at the shore and I will be moving from Butler, NJ to Bradley Beach, NJ at the end of November. (...and for you trivia buffs: I lived in Bradley Beach as an infant. I will be returning to live there after about 43 years of being away. Wow.)