Al Roker and I Should Be BFFs!

I have been writing this post in my mind for well over a month.  I keep thinking "Today's the day I sit down and type" and time keeps rapidly progressing.  I have a SUPER HUMONGOUS PROJECT this Spring that I will share more about in a future post because I need to document the process and this is the best way for me to do it.

Anyway...on to my mind ramblings about Al Roker - my unknown BFF.

Let me start by saying that I watch the TODAY show every morning while I am getting ready for work.  I have spent my mornings with Matt, Katie, Savannah, Meredith and Al.  (I love them all and have this reoccurring fantasy that involves me being asked to hang out with them for a day!)

But today is all about AL!  Al is like the librarian of the Today show :-)  I know...I know...you think I have lost my mind.  But bear with me and you will see the genius.

Al's role is weatherman.  He is supposed to get 3-5 minutes each hour to tell us what to expect weatherwise and then send it off to the local station for a look at "what's happening in our neck of the woods." If something runs over, Al gets cut.

Librarians, particularly in elementary schools, get 50 minutes to do a lesson, book check in and book check out. If a meeting, that a librarian is supposed to present at, runs long then the librarian gets cut.

But Al is soooooo much more than a weatherman.  Let's look closer.

Al is arguably the most techy of all the Today show gang. He tweets and snaps and instagrams and vines was the first on the show to do so. He has the cool phone and the cool techy toys. Librarians are the most techy people in the school. We guide the rest of our school into the 21st century whether they want to be there of not!

But Al is much, much more than a weatherman. Al cooks!  He does cooking segments and even has written a cookbook (or two).  Librarians help cook up unique learning opportnities by giving teacehrs ingredients they need to be successful. (OK, that is a bit of a stretch.  The rest will get better.)

Al covers the red carpet!  He is fab at those celebrity interviews. He even got President Obama's First Interview and a handshake from Vice President Biden. (In case you missed it!)  Librarians are expert interviewers as well.  We interview reluctant readers, veracious readers and even adults who aren't sure what book they really need to teach a skill.  (Admit it.  That was better!)

Al is up for anything!  Seriously.  We have all seen his luge footage with Matt. He's been hypnotized.
He even played Urkel in this year's Halloween skit.  Librarians will do ANYTHING to get someone to read or be motivated.  Case in point.  (DO NOT SHARE THIS PHOTO WITH ANYONE!!)  Meet Agnes who came to the library without her travel books and needed the 2nd graders to fill in their passports with information about Africa.

I think I am still trying to get that nasty dollar store orange lipstick off!

Al is always in the middle of horrible situations - hurricanes, tornadoes, snow storms - you name it, he's covered it. He does the hard things, gets knocked down and keeps on going! Librarians do the same.  We do bus duty, cafeteria duty, concert duty and detention. And we do it all with a smile!

And, as if that were not enough, Al used to have a book club on the Today show. Seriously??!!  Show me a librarian who does not run a book club in their school (or dream of the time to start one).  I dare you to find one!

So Al, if you are ever in Baltimore stop by.  Or if you have a few minutes to spare in NYC, let's hang together.  I'll do the weather.  I'll cook with you.  We can talk books.  I am only a train ride away!