CALIFORNIA DREAMING is indeed becoming a reality here at Chez Chaput. I have given my 'official' notice to Queens Public Library and we have started packing up.

As things stand now Donna and I hope to be in SoCal by August 21 the latest. We already have an apartment (found during our trip out there the other week) which takes pets, so Babie is coming along for the ride. I may post some photos of the surrounding area in the next week, since we took a bunch while looking at different places.

Wanted you folks to be among the first to know.

I may be jumping the gun here, as I haven't really officially announced this, but it looks like Donna and I will be moving soon. Not everything is in place but staying here in NY doesn't seem to be our best (or only) option.

I'll probably have more to say early next week, so I'll see you then unless something comes up worth blogging about.

Apparently G.W. took note of my blog post earlier and has changed his mind. Seems that Condi will be racking up some more frequent flyer miles and will have to curtail her shopping for Prada this weekend.

The comedy duo of Bush & Blair are doing boffo with their tag-team act and are taking it on the road, it seems.

Spotted this earlier this morning:

"BEIRUT (Reuters) - Intense Israeli bombardment killed 13 people in Lebanon on Friday, while U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she would return to the region only when the time was right for a lasting solution to the crisis."

And exactly at point would that be? Maybe after most of Beirut has been leveled and the entire infrastructure of the country destroyed?

I'm very sorry to report that the position I was hoping for in Los Angeles didn't come through. I received the call last evening and it pretty much put a damper on the evening as you can imagine. Sometimes these things just don't work out.

Donna and I are discussing our future here in New York. No quick decisions but we're leaning towards a move to the coast just the same. I'll keep you updated.

The expression "No news is good news" may or may not be generally true, but in my case not so much. Unfortunately, we don't have a definitive answer re the new job in California, so Donna & I continue to keep our fingers crossed. I hope that those of you wishing us well will do like wise.

I do want to thank Dr. Chang, Dawn, and the other members of the Braille Institute staff for allowing me to take up their time last Tuesday. They are very busy and being there for several hours, I'm sure, cut into the work they do. I really do hope to count myself as one of them in the near future.

On the other hand, Donna and I did do some apartment hunting while in the OC. While not thrilled by some of the places we saw initially, we found a couple of places in the Ladera Ranch area that really looked like places to settle down. I'm tempted to post some pics, but don't want to jinx anything.

I'll keep you all posted as the week progresses.

I expect all of you to do your best in preventing WWIII breaking out while I'm in California. I'll happily deal with the fires, earthquakes and mudslides if you'll keep atomic warfare from ruining my vacation.

Since I may not be able to post for the next week I wanted to share the Los Angeles skyline with you. Got no clue when this may have been taken, but it certainly must have been an unbelievably clear day, huh?

With any luck I'll have some news to report when I get back.

Well, the contractors are working on the A/C here at the library. It's really nice in the Adult room, but sadly the Children's Room was around 85 degrees at 9:30am. The unit hasn't worked properly since the branched re-opened in March. Earlier in the year, folks downstairs had to wear sweaters it was so cold, as there was no heat. Fingers crossed that they'll get the unit working properly by later today.

When I worked in Brooklyn the branch would be closed if the temperature went above or below a certain set mark. Here in Queens The Powers That Be have decided that employees can sit in the heat or cold, comforted by the possiblity that Administration may shell out a few extra dollars as Compenstation Pay. I doubt the folks at Central would sit in the conditions the branch staff works in each and every day.

Well, I'm sure the guillotine is being readied back in Paris. I actually watched a soccer game (not all of it since there was also a Mets game on at the same time) for the first time in years. I was really sorry to see French lose by only a penalty kick after a very good record.

Not much of a fan of this sport, as I've mentioned before, but had my reasons for rooting this time around.

The worst part is that here in Dyker Heights & Bensonhurst, as you can imagine, the locals are going crazy. Car horns, fireworks and drunks hanging out sunroofs and car window waving the red, white & green.

Hard to believe that this time next week Donna and I will be in California with The Child and her friends.

Interesting to discover the news of the death of Ken Lay this morning. While I have little sympathy for the man, considering what his actions did to the pensions and savings of hundreds (if not thousands) of working folk, I do feel badly for his family. I'm sure that the coming days will be hard enough without the bad jokes and other comments sure to be directed at Mr. Lay.

Speaking of which, The White House has announced that the President still doesn't know Mr. Lay, despite photographs and video reputed to exist.

I know my might catch flack for this, but I'd like to give the folks folks reading my two blogs an early crack at comics & fanzines I'm clearing from my collection. I may be moving in the next few months, but even if we remain in Brooklyn I think it's time to weed out stuff I no longer want/need.

There's about ten comicbook long-boxes of stuff I'm getting rid of one way or the other.

The fanzines/magazines include stuff from the 1970s, i.e. a couple of issues of RBCC, GUTS, OMNIVERSE and others. I also have some copies of Comic Book Profiles, Amazing Heroes, etc. There are also some zines (pro & fan) on "B" movies & serials. Some of these are yellowing with a bit of water damage on a few.

The comics are mostly in Very Good or better condition, but that's according to my standards. Most are DC & Marvels from the 1980s-'90s, when I was collecting heavily. Many individual mini-series, and cross-over tie-ins. There are also a few 'underground/adult comics','anthropomorpics' and 'independents', including some 'ash cans'.

If you are interested in either or both lists I'll send them along as an attachment via e-mail.

Write me at: sachaput50@yahoo.com

"It was twenty years ago today...."

Well, it was actually twenty years ago yesterday, but things were pretty hectic at work and I didn't have a chance to post. Still I didn't want a very important date in my life to go unnoticed.

On June 30, 1986 I was hired as a Librarian Trainee by the Brooklyn Public Library. After spending most of the day at Grand Army Plaza filling out forms and getting a brief indoctrination, I found myself at the Sunset Park branch of the library meeting Susan Raboy & Made Kiner, who would shepherd me through my first six months.

I can't begin to tell you the things that have happened over those twenty years. Good and bad, but leading me to where I am today for better or worse. :-)

Hats off to Ms. Raboy & Kiner for the friendship and guidance through everything that has happened.