Profile - Elizabeth B. (Cattriona) - KS

I've been a science/biomedical librarian for 15+ years, and I love to read anything.  As a librarian, my books are in pristine shape, unless I got them used and, even then, I take good care of them.  Ours is a non-smoking household and, due to severe asthma, books with smoke, mildew or mold don't get to my bookshelf.  We do have cats who like to get up on the shelf and knock down whatever I've just finished alphabetizing.

I hate to be bored, and have been known to read the backs of cereal boxes when nothing else was at hand.   I'm a volunteer here on the Data and Image teams at PBS, so if you submit books between 8 and 9 in the morning, I give their cataloging info a first glance before sending it on to the pros if needed. I'm also a volunteer PBS Tour Guide, and am happy to answer questions about PBS, or find someone who knows the answer.

I am married to a botanist who is expert at identifying plants.  You have a weed in your backyard you want to know about?  He's your guy.  Yes, we do have a "no Latin at the dinner table" rule in our house, otherwise the plant names and talk would go on and on :-)

When I'm not reading or playing servant to our felines, I like to play Pogo, board games, Animal Crossing: City Folk on our Wii, go blueberry picking and collect handkerchiefs.  :::yawn:::  Yeah, that's the life of a Kansas librarian.

As of 10/7/08, my "ordered from" and "sent to" maps are finally complete -- all 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico!  Thanks to all my fellow members for their help!

Unpostables -- one free with any order from my shelf:

A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller Jr. (underlining and notes on text pages)

The Chosen by Chaim Potok (burn mark in front cover)

The Conquest by Elizabeth Chadwick (staining on page edges)

Evergreen  by Belva Plain (torn page)

Lost in Austen by Emma Campbell Webster (staining and some water/liquid damage) -- claimed by Sally

Sleeping Tiger by Rosamunde Pilcher (small hole on one page)

The Running Vixen by Elizabeth Chadwick (binding separated)

For Buddy Swaps:

I am a Pisces, birthday March 2 (same as Dr. Seuss)

I am a pseudo-Catholic (not terribly devout) and celebrate the usual Christian holidays -- Christmas, Easter, etc.

I am severely allergic to cigarette smoke, mildew and mold, but pet hair and dust won't bother me.

I love:

• lavender scents
• primary colors (particularly blues and greens -- dark green, grass green, etc)
• silver costume jewelry (my ears are pierced, necklaces need an 18-20" chain, please; am not much for bracelets)
• things with Tigger (the tiger from Winnie the Pooh)
• note cards/greeting cards/stationary for all occasions
• cat things -- either things with cats or for cats
• fun/colorful socks (my shoe size is 8)
• dish towels (who can ever have enough?)
• ice hockey, particularly the Boston Bruins
• my iPod and I use iTunes
• my Nintendo DSi and Wii
• computer games
• magnetic notepads for my fridge
• Scottish things
• Welsh things
• Cincinnati-style chili -- if you have access to Gold Star in a can, my husband will lay down his life for you :-)
• handkerchiefs (I collect them -- new or antique, any fabric, plain, fancy or silly designs)
• our china pattern, Portmeirion's Botanic Garden, which also decorates other parts of the house
• Haribo Gummi Bears
• See's Peanut Brittle
• fruit flavored Jelly Belly jelly beans, particularly blueberry

I have an Amazon wish list, too.

Am not so keen on:

• foods (except those above -- I have a lot of food allergies)
• candles (my cats are not so bright, they set themselves on fire)
• licorice, wintergreen or lilac scents
• coffee or tea
• alcohol (we like it, it is just illegal to mail it here to Kansas)
• the color orange
• items with birds/ducks on them (I'm French Canadian and we consider them bad luck in the home)