Merry Christmas from Poe 🎄

There's a throwaway line in The Office Season 3 where Pam tells Roy if he uses more than 3 pieces of tape to wrap a present he's "doing it wrong" and I have thought about it basically every time I've wrapped a present in the last two decades.

Book borrows have gone up every year since I moved to Baltimore and I simply don't believe that's a coincidence! "Through history, libraries have been designed to serve the whole public, Helmick said, regardless of class or social strata."

Playing my favorite game (hitting "random" on Smitten Kitchen's website until I decide what to cook for a belated Christmas dinner this weekend)

"The pigeons, wired into the municipal guidance field, hang motionless above the square, wings cupped like spoons."

today is their day 🧤

Went to see the new AVATAR and sat in front of a child so feral his mother wouldn’t meet my eye as we left the theater

Not only is Jung a great writer (O BEAUTIFUL in particular is excellent), but she is one of the kindest writers (and people) I've ever met. Super looking forward to this book! If you're local, she's also going to do a launch event at the library! www.eventbrite.com/e/jung-yun-a...

Such an honor to be nominated by the lovely folks over at @thedodgemag.bsky.social , and in such great company! 🐋

The mayor telling citizens to stop complaining about transportation during large events: "We're a world-class city." The world-class city:

I've been looking around for a secondhand or vintage tree topper and there's quite a selection of Extremely Cursed objects out there, if you're interested in inviting one of the good people to haunt your family for eternity www.ebay.com/itm/25724106...

USPS marked two Christmas presents as delivered that definitely aren't delivered

*clanging pots and pans* The people want to take the train to the beach!!

Now THIS is more like it ❄️

You heard it here first: Jacob Elordi tells @beccamford.bsky.social he'd rather kiss on the beach than talk about AI vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/frankenstein-jacob-elordi-euphoria-interview

Alpha this, provider that—what women really want is someone who turns the Christmas tree lights on before she gets home from work so she can see it twinkling in the window.

A lot to like about SENTIMENTAL VALUE: archival librarians, gorgeous knitwear, even a nice little joke about Netflix being stupid

*kicks down the door like Big Bird in that one gif* VISIT YOUR LIBRARY WE'VE GOT DVDS WE'VE GOT CDS WE'VE GOT BOOKS ON CD WE'VE GOT THAT TONIES THING FOR YOUR KID YOUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS AT WORK

Didn't like the debut novel blurbed by an author I don't like

I suspect this episode’s already in the can but if not and you’re booked for it, I will help with your PA Dutch prononciations pro bono, please do not be discussing LANkasster even if you WERE raised in the UK

IT’S TIME

Working with a guy with such a thick Bawlmer accent we almost have a language barrier

We can't even keep the bus lanes operational in this city but sure, let's add fascist robo taxis

Honestly, the only response I really get (besides "I love the library!") is "Oh! So you must like books?" And the answer's yes. ❤️

Living my ADHD nightmare (someone needs a very important original document from me that is supposedly in my possession but that I swear I've never heard of before)

RETVRN

Bong Joon Ho hit me up for the squad you legend deadline.com/2025/11/bong...

Decided to do a (chronological) Star Wars marathon since we’re not traveling today and the transition from REVENGE OF THE SITH back to the de-specialized STAR WARS is both very jarring and such a relief.

I <3 Red Emma's. I need to remember to get my books together for their Book Swap, also happening this Friday! redemmas.org/events/black...

The Doppio/Greedy Reads twofer is truly unmatched

A York County W so rare it's statistically impossible: "The Barnes and Noble in York—where Fetterman was born and raised—had sold zero copies. The Barnes and Noble in Philadelphia had sold two copies."

or maybe listen to Tea Obreht read it to you, on a commute or a walk or while just sitting or laying down and zoning out the rest of the world www.newyorker.com/podcast/fict...

Love a little voicemail flash: "Oh, Carol, I do hope you at least get my message before the storm comes. Nevermind the parking ticket, Carol. The storm."

It is genuinely incredible to me how much evidence there is to support investing in the public good and how much animus there is to do this simple, effective thing.

Forget the Rooney bucket hat, someone get me the Solvej Balle t-shirt !

Rejection of the day is "you should know this was a very close call"

This is really upsetting!

YES 🐋 "Janna learned the term voluntary breathers, which is what whales are. Means that if they don’t think about breathing they can’t do it. Means if they don’t think about it, they die."

Ideal walkabout weather today 🍂

OMG i just saw my lil’ (100 word) SF #cat story posted on fabulous @100footcrow.bsky.social today!!! #WhiskersWednesday, no less! How perfect is that😜🚀😻?! #writing #drabble #SpecFic 100footcrow.com/how-to-train...

I'm so glad this ep made me look up these photos:

October reading log:

Easily the most famous half-address house is for sale (a very modest 4.2 mil): www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/r...

Just got an auto-renew notice for library material I definitely returned a week ago

Happy Halloween! I am concerned that I didn't buy enough Reese's cups, but in the meantime, have a prose poem about a haunting: www.havehashad.com/hadposts/a-t...

Reminder that @baltimorebeat.bsky.social publishes this resource guide in every issue, and has done so for the last 3 years baltimorebeat.com/community-re...

I love when I get an email from my student loans with a subject line like "URGENT!!! MESSAGE IN YOUR INBOX!!!!" and then after logging in with eight-factor authorization the message is "No new documents :) "

In anticipation of potential cuts to SNAP benefits starting November 1, the library is currently accepting food and Venmo (linked in library's IG bio) donations. Trick-or-treaters can grab candy and/or canned goods. Excess food will be donated to the Bmore Community Fridge Network's sites.

Whitest/most millennial thing about me is that I know all the words to The Black Eyed Peas’s “I Gotta Feeling”