The Removal of my Cloak of Invisibility (IN THE STACKS UPDATE)

Most embarassing morning of my entire life. And that's saying a lot, because...

1) I don't get embarassed easily.

2) I've had some REALLY monumental embarassing moments.

But seriously, this one's a keeper.

It all started this morning, but for you new readers, I'd suggest reading the previous "IN THE STACKS" post, otherwise this will make no sense.

Today was just like any other day. I walk into the library wearing my "I Know Something You Don't Know" smile, sit down at my normal computer which ironically faces AWAY from the librarian, and start my "research."

The second I click on the picture of the "World's Most Tattooed Man," my screen goes blank.

As I'm frantically clicking the mouse, my kiss of death appears on the screen.

"Votre ordinateur est bloquee. Vas voir le bureau." (Your computer has been blocked. Go see the front desk)

MERDE.

If this isn't embarassing enough, as this exact moment, EVERYONE IN THE LIBRARY stands up, and I watch them walk to the front desk.

MERDE.

So, naturally, I'm the last to stand up, and during my walk of shame, I'm glancing at all the computers in the row, and evidently they are all plagued with the same message.

As I get closer, everyone is now staring at me, and the librarian has now stolen my "I Know Something You Don't Know" smile.

"Mademoiselle, on utilise les ordinateurs QUE pour la recherche. Qu'est- ce que tu regardes?" (Young lady, we use the computers ONLY for research. What were you doing?)

Me: "bahh, la recherche, bien sur." (Research, of course.)

Apparently she was not satisfied with this answer, and continued to argue with me about my intentions. The poor woman thought she was going to win the argument.

I'm still surprised about the answer I ended up giving:

Me: "Mais, uh, Madame, je fais un projet sur l'effets economiques des tatouages pour les gens...pour mon ecole aux Etats Unis..." (But I am doing a project on the economic affects that tattooing has on people...for my school in the United States...)

Conversation terminated: computer unblocked.

The only problem? I actually had to spend the rest of the hour researching the economic affects of tattooing...

...although I still consider the confrontation a win on my part.