Sunday August 23rd Is Laziness Next to Godliness?

I find that there is a certain stigma associated with term lazy: slothful, unproductive, couch potato and so on. But, does that always mean the case when being thought of as lazy? I would have to say no. Myself, I have no problem whatsoever being called lazy. That is because I can be truly lazy at times. As my family and friends are well aware of, I can sometimes lie on the couch reading while occasionally channel surfing for an entire day and night (and sometimes day again, depending on how lazy I feel). I call this my mental health time to recharge the batteries. There are times where I feel like turning the brain off and basically vegetating (my friends say they can actually see the growing layers of dust on me). Is this wrong? Some might find this absolutely deplorable and a waste of a day while others might relate. Don’t get me wrong, I love doing things like golfing, fishing, traveling and kayaking in the company of others. I also find time to contribute around the house, complete school work and work (yikes, sounds as if I am trying to defend myself). Well this article is not about me, it’s about the library helping out the sometimes lazy person who still needs to get things done.

Cooking can also be quite the nuisance, especially when getting off work and the prospects of takeout start appealing more and more. Instead of piling up on the takeout bills, slow cooking might be the answer. For tips and advice on having that home cooked meal ready and waiting for you with almost no work check out some of the library’s slow cooking books like Lazy Day Cookin': Slow Cooker Meals that Simmer to Perfection While You Work, Play or Sleep by Phyllis Pellman Good.

There is nothing like a good garden in the summer. Although, I do not have my own garden per say, both my parents and the in-laws have excellent gardens to raid. Many out there love having a beautiful garden but would rather spend their summer pursuing more relaxing and leisurely activities. If you can relate, you might want to try the book Tips for the Lazy Gardener by Linda Tilgner. She details the art of manifesting a garden with less work.

Perhaps my favourite tool found at the library or accessed from the comfort of one’s own home through the library’s website is the Virtual Collection. This extensive selection of electronic databases offers library users a wide spectrum of informational services (for a great fitness article, search the General Reference Centre Gold database for The Beer Drinking, TV watching workout). The NetLibrary database is a great example of a tool that offers library users 24/7 access to numerous electronic books (E-books) and audiobooks, both fiction and nonfiction. With a laptop with Wifi setup at home, all this information can be accessed without even leaving the couch, comfortable chair or even outside while soaking up the sun with a margarita within close range. Well, even with a desktop computer, I’m sure the truly skilled could be able to MacGyver something up to not get off the couch and still browse the databases.

These are only a few of many resources aimed at assisting those who just really would rather do something else than the so called important stuff. I mean, is it so very wrong to try to con your mother in-law into walking the dog in order to garner more couch time? I mean, isn’t that what mother in-laws are for? Just kidding Marge. By the way, can you walk the dog tonight?

Derek Gradner, Library Assistant