Though I refuse to be the type of person to count any sort of egg-laying fowl before they hatch, I am talking to the editor of a cool magazine/literary zine thingamajig regarding one of my pieces. Exciting. I'll post more info/links to where when I have more info, dates and that sort of stuff.
I had a busy day, yesterday.
Russian Grocery:
Ya know, I never did bother to learn any Polish words from my grandpa, and I suppose I still could ask my mom what she remembers (the basics I remember... basics being anything that sounds vaguely like English, hehe, like how "Thank you" is Dzãkujã, which sounds sort of like "Jane-koo-ya"). Anyway, my apparent inability regarding all things Slavic was obvious today at the local Russian grocery store as I attempted to buy: Pirogies and Pumpernickel bread. I asked if they ever had Russian tea cups (they have a TON of tea at this place, and Samovars all over the place). I attempted to say "Podstakannik," which resulted in the lady at the counter calling over the other lady, them having a spirited discussion in Russian (the speech bubbles for which would look like this - "русский язык!!!!") which concluded with, eventually, one of them making a hand gesture to the other that looked like a tea cup, sort of, and then looking back at me and saying, "No, we don't have those." I snatched my debit card from her hands and bolted out the door, yelling "My peeps invented vodkaaaaaa!" as I jumped in my car and drove away (sort of).
The art supplies store:
Pearl Art Supplies (the nearest art supplies store to me) is a heaping pile of horse crap. You walk through there, and pick something up (often off of the floor) and think to yourself "ah, yes, I shall buy this!" and then remember that, despite the fact that you picked it up from the carpet, possibly dislodged it from between two racks, it will still cost its full retail price. I described the Pen/Calligraphy/Airbrush section to Lesley as feeling "like it should be having a 50% off sale, but isn't." Despite all this, their disorganization and sloppitude has lead to an interesting conundrum, for me. In the course of plowing through their bizarre collection of pens, I found a number of unexpected bits: J. Herbin ink (nice French fountain pen ink that I like a lot), and a Rotring pen that was discontinued about 2.5 years ago but has since become a hot ticket item. It's still new in the box. They haven't discovered this, yet, and the guy at the counter got it out of the back for me. Its still at its normal price. Of course, while I was there I didn't realize any of this, so I didn't buy it. I was hoping that, since its obviously been there for a really long time (I'm estimating 5 years), one day wouldn't make a difference. Its got a black hexagonal barrel with a smooth finish (that warms to your touch), its made of heavy steel and most people say it can survive nuclear attacks and possibly be used as a weapon in an emergency. As for me, I would call it "beefy." I can tell you that for sure because today, I returned and purchased it and even got a 10% off discount.
The movie theater:
So we braved the theater for a little Simpsons movie action. I enjoyed the film, yes. What I enjoyed even more, though, was a couple that walked into the theater. Understand, Les and I were literally the first people in there. We sat down, we waited. Just before the film started, a couple walked in with a stroller. The child in the stroller was already agitated in just the entry into the theater, so, of course, we had high hopes for shrieking and perhaps some "MOMMMMMYYYYYY"'s throughout the film. The lady... well, I'll just come out and say it... she was obese and not in a pleasant, friendly "Jolly" Santa way, no sirree, she was unpleasant. I don't really normally hate on folks who have the extra weight, but when they plunk down into the chair and whip out:
A.) Double Cheese Burger
B.) Onion Rings (with Ranch Dressing for increased health!)
C.) 44oz Cola
Well, I gotta say, I have little sympathy. OH, and she was feeding strips of the burger to her infant, forgot about that part. Ha ha! How did she and her gentleman manage to smuggle these items in to the theater? Granted, I wont criticize theater food smugglers... I descend from a long line of folks unwilling to pay for Butter-Lung inducing pop-shards and wickedly price pointed fruccy goodness. Today, we smuggled in two Ito-en teas and a package of "Panda" Licorice bites. Mmm. Not theater snacks. Even better Mmmm.
Anyway, returning to the burger people, when we left the theater, I glanced down at the floor where they had been sitting and the only thing that was left to indicate their presence in this place was: A single scrap of Bacon.
I saluted it like I salute the flag and sang as I left the theater...
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
A Book:
I purchased a book about writing, the other day. Normally I don't do this sort of thing, but I've noticed that I have been having a bit of trouble with my SF/Fantasy style stuff lately, for whatever reason, so I thought a bit of sage advice could help. Orson Scott Card's book on the topic looked interesting. And, so far it has been. I like that his advice is bluntly practical. I have a hearty amount of respect for him.
