Bright Light

Ah, it's good to see the sun shining again.
(First cloudless, sunny day in over two weeks here in Houston).

"Bright light, bright light!"
-Gizmo

Cool shit.

Have you ever had something really cool happen to you--something you didn't even ask for or expect? Last night I had one of these 'events' take place. Here's how it went...

I go to Half-Price Books after work to look for some required texts for the two classes I am enrolled in, Early British Literature and Art Appreciation. Everyone knows that textbooks are ridiculously expensive, especially if you buy them on campus. I usually take my chances and wait until class has started to either a) see if I even need them for the class (you'd be surprised at how often you don't), or b), look for used texts on-line or at a used bookstore. Fortunately I find one of my texts immediately, Canterbury Tales, and noticing that is is the last copy I quickly grab it and place it under my arm. It was $4, compared to $13 brand new. Sweet. Since I found what I needed for the moment I proceeded to the travel section to look for anything by my new favorite author, Bill Bryson*.

There are two copies of Notes From A Small Island on the shelf. I grab one and Check the price--$5.99. I grab the other one to see it's price and notice it is $4.99--and in better condition than the first. I have no idea why this one is cheaper, and without even opening the book I place it under my arm with the other book and continue on, assuming this book is just like any other.

Now I'll skip all the boring parts and get to the cool part. Later on that night, as I'm about to go to bed, I decide to break open the book and read a chapter or two. I open the cover, and then the next page, and the next---What!? Huh? No way! On the 3rd page (I think) it says "Best Wishes, Bill Bryson." Immediately, I take a closer look to see if it is printed, or actually written in ink. It is. I can see the indentions left by the ballpoint pen and the shimmer of the ink. Awesome--I unknowingly bought a signed copy! Upon further inspection I take note that this book has never been opened. The spine is in perfect condition, as are the pages. I almost felt guilty opening the book, knowing that eventually the spine will become creased and lose it's luster. But, books are meant to be read, and so I did. Oh, I almost forgot, it's a first edition.

"Bill who?," you ask. Sure, a signed first edition such as this is not even in the same league as, say, Stephen King or whoever (can't think of anyone else right now) and might not mean squat to most of people, but it's cool to me. It is however, much, much cooler than having anything signed by Dan Brown.

I forgot to look for Artforms, the text for my other class.

*Bill Bryson writes travel books (among a couple that are not travel related). He has a dry, witty sense of humor and can somehow make anything interesting. I think I enjoy his work because I too like to travel and find myself making many of the same types of observations about the places I visit.

Awesome.

Sticks

If you were playing 'catch' with your dog, and you threw the stick into a pile of sticks, what do you think he/she would do? Fetch the exact stick? Fetch a random stick? Or, look confused and return to you, waiting for another stick?

Thursday

Hello. I have decided today, Thursday, that Tuesday is the worst day of the week. I will explain later.