Caturday! Halloween and Tocktober

Happy Halloween from Lily:

and Figo!

You woke me up for this?

And Mommy *almost* forgot Tocktober pictures!

Happy Halloween

Yes, it’s a day early, but I’m already in the spirit!

Wordless Wednesday 3

Tea Review: Fairytale Tea

Fairytale Tea is the third (and last tea to be reviewed!) from the herbal tea sampler from Mountain Rose Herbs.  This tea contains Organic Calendula flowers, organic Red Clover flowers, organic Lavender flowers, organic Chamomile flowers, organic Lemon Balm, organic Catnip, organic Spearmint, organic Skullcap, organic Thyme, organic Oatstraw, organic Lemon peel and a pinch of organic Stevia.

Tea Sampler

The cats particularly like when I make this tea – it must be the catnip!  The tea is light and refreshing.  Slightly minty, with herbal floral notes.  Think chamomile with a hint of mint.  This also helped to ease my tummy troubles after eating too much Indian food a few weeks ago!

Fairytale Tea

Media Monday: Best Music Video Ever!

Seriously!

Caturday: Our Baby Pictures

Figo and Lily wanted me to remind you that you can view their baby pictures at http://picasaweb.google.com/somcak/FigoAndLily022407?feat=directlink and http://picasaweb.google.com/somcak/FigoAndLily030407?feat=directlink

LAD: Look, Ask, Dig

LAD is how I conduct research.  I came up with the concept, or parts of it anyway, from working at the reference desk.  I now use it in my market research position as well.

Look.

Look for the resource where you *think* it should be.  In a library, look in the catalog or check the shelf.  In a research position, look at the citation and try to find the material.  Do an advanced internet search.  Search for the information in the most efficient way you know how to.

Ask.

If you can’t find it by looking, then ask  for two things: 1) ask for more information from the requester, or 2) ask for help in finding the resource/information.  Or do both.

Sometimes we wind up looking in the wrong place or conducting the wrong type of search because the information being requested is something we are unfamiliar with, or is being asked in a manner that is confusing.  Clarifying the request can often make all the difference.  Try putting the request in your own words (paraphrasing the request) and allow the person requester to respond to your paraphrase.  This eliminates the need to continue going down the wrong path, while allowing the requester to save face.

As for the second part of “ask,” I’ve learned more from my co-workers at the reference desk than I would have been able to dig up on my own.  In the process, I learned how to look for similar information in the future.  It’s a win-win situation as I learned and the user got the requested information.

Dig.

If you can’t find the information from looking or asking, it’s time to dig into the material.  Conduct super-advanced internet searches.  Make phone calls to experts in the field of the information being requested.  Ask anyone you can think of who may have a clue as to where the information is.

Part of this comes from my natural curiosity.  If someone asks me about something and I don’t know the answer, I find it.  It’s one of the reasons a friend has nicknamed me “the bulldog” – because I dig in and find the answer.

Part of this step is also the life habits I have created.  I read a lot: 400+ blogs daily, 2 newspapers online daily, 3 news magazines a week, 2-3 novels a week, and at least 1 non-fiction book a week.   The knowledge obtained from reading (yes, even the fiction!) has helped me to dig further into research projects.  Also, reading expands my vocabulary and exposes me to different specialties and areas.  So when I’m asked to research something in an area I’m not trained or educated in, I’m able to rely on the knowledge I have obtained from reading.

I also listen to NPR every morning, and subscribe to several podcasts ranging from comedy to science to politics.  The radio and podcasts expand my knowledge in much the same way reading does.

These life habits have enabled me to answer questions ranging from “where is this section of the U.S. Code?” to “why are tornados only in the Mid-West?” with minimal digging.

LAD

This is not a perfect system, but it does give some insight into how I answer research and reference questions.  Do you have a suggestion?  Leave it in the comments and I will follow up on this post in the next few weeks.

Wordless Wednesday 2

Tea Review: Celestial Seasonings Gingerbread Spice

Last week I shared the other bagged tea I drink.  The Celestial Seasonings Gingerbread Spice is so good and caffeine free, so I stock up in the winter to drink it year round.  ( I also like the Nutcracker Sweet and Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride, but didn’t stock up on those last year!  I will this year and do reviews of them as well!)

Gingerbread Spice is on the left

The Gingerbread Spice is ultra-sweet, think dessert in a cup with a hint of spice.  The cinnamon and ginger scream out of the cup and a freshly brewed cup smells like fresh baked gingerbread cookies.  If you don’t like sweet tea (or gingerbread cookies!) then pass on this tea.  The other ingredients are roasted chicory, roasted barley, natural flavors and luo han guo (a sweetener made from dried fruit).  I drink this tea instead of eating sweets during the holidays as a cup of this is all the sweetness I need after a meal.

Caturday 2: Figo’s Revenge

Figo didn’t like the pictures Lily chose of him last week, so he wanted to set the record straight on how he’s a big cat, not fat.