I get WiFi free at Best Western and normally it's good, but tonight it's as slow as a backwards snail. All I wanted to do was veg in front of the computer and surf the web, but the signal keeps popping in and out and I'm in no mood to wait. So I'm finishing this posting and gone. Gotta be up and at it tomorrow morning for a possible packing job.
I really enjoy book fairs. At least, the antiquarian ones. The dealers are such characters. Mostly unfocused and scattered all over the place, trying to open display cabinets with the wrong keys and rushing about trying to find a good deal and complaining about the layout of the fair and dissing each other behind their backs and being charming and insistent and so certain they're the center of the universe, you almost have to agree with them.
The venue looks right for a book fair -- a long, LONG former fruit warehouse or something, built of wrought iron and glass, that is lovely to look at but needs constant repair. Last time the fair was in San Francisco, it rained and dealers had to put up plastic everywhere to protect their stock.
And some of the things you find there -- like an early copy of J. R. R. Tolkien's first published poem from 1916 (?). Architectural drawings for a windmill from the 18th century. Framed Audubon prints (that were probably cut out of an early edition of the book to sell on their own;sacrilege!). A 4" thick book on how a lady should keep her house. You wonder about finding some totally obscure volume? I bet that someone at this fair can help you locate it if they don't already have what you want.
I was too busy to do much real looking. Maybe sometime later in my life, when I'm rich and famous, I can just come in and wander the aisles and contemplate my wishes and hopes and dreams.
Right now -- I'm too beat to continue.
I really enjoy book fairs. At least, the antiquarian ones. The dealers are such characters. Mostly unfocused and scattered all over the place, trying to open display cabinets with the wrong keys and rushing about trying to find a good deal and complaining about the layout of the fair and dissing each other behind their backs and being charming and insistent and so certain they're the center of the universe, you almost have to agree with them.
The venue looks right for a book fair -- a long, LONG former fruit warehouse or something, built of wrought iron and glass, that is lovely to look at but needs constant repair. Last time the fair was in San Francisco, it rained and dealers had to put up plastic everywhere to protect their stock.
And some of the things you find there -- like an early copy of J. R. R. Tolkien's first published poem from 1916 (?). Architectural drawings for a windmill from the 18th century. Framed Audubon prints (that were probably cut out of an early edition of the book to sell on their own;sacrilege!). A 4" thick book on how a lady should keep her house. You wonder about finding some totally obscure volume? I bet that someone at this fair can help you locate it if they don't already have what you want.
I was too busy to do much real looking. Maybe sometime later in my life, when I'm rich and famous, I can just come in and wander the aisles and contemplate my wishes and hopes and dreams.
Right now -- I'm too beat to continue.
2 comments:
Slow wifi SHOULD be illegal. Bitches!
Okay. I want to try out Porno Manifesto. :)
Thanks for this opportunity.
Okay, soon as I get home I'll send you a copy. I just hope you know what you're getting into. ;)
Okay, now...uh, to what address?
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