- Christmas Cards Bought: One Box
- Christmas Gifts Found: Two
- Things I Wanted But Couldn't Afford: Too Many
- Cheesecake Eaten: One Slice...Tiramisu...heavenly
- Books Brought Home: Need You Ask?
I'm not sure how successful my day in Kansas City was...I ended up buying more for me than for those on my Christmas list. My defense is that the stores were a tad bit out of my budget even though I found many things I liked, but just couldn't afford. Books are another story. They are pretty much the same price wherever you go. I did find a few things in the bookstore that I will be giving as gifts at least. I never seem to have any problem finding things for myself, but isn't that always the case. Unfortunately most of my gift recipients are not big readers, or they want other things, so when I was book browsing it was essentially just for me. It is interesting that before blogging I would never have hesitated to buy a book that looked interesting even though I knew nothing about the author. If the blurb sounded good, that is all I needed. I found myself reading the backs of books and at first thinking this one is going in the basket, but then on further consideration would change my mind. I had never heard of the author, was the story really so tempting, should I really believe what the little quotes on the back say (after all the brouhaha on book reviewing and particularly on reading how blurbs are gotten--it was all in the back of my mind). I found myself putting books back. Despite the pile of books, I am really trying to be more discerning in what I buy. I kept thinking of the stack of books I want to read in the next few months and questioning myself--am I really going to be reading this anytime soon? In the end I mostly bought books that were either on my wishlist or that I have read about on other blogs.
In the end I walked away with: Field of Blood by Denise Mina (Scottish mystery writer that I read about somewhere and have been meaning to give a try), The Crimson Portrait by Jody Shields (I read her very unusual first novel, The Fig Eater, and was happy to see she has a new novel out--this one set in London During WWI), Housekeeping vs. Dirt by Nick Hornby (I enjoyed his first book of essays and thought I would give this a try), Jar City: A Reykjavik Thriller by Arnaldur Indridason (I keep reading about him--must give him a try, plus I like international mysteries), The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole (the book that started it all--I have looked for this one, but I never see it on bookstore shelves), and lastly Gigi by Colette (I also never seem to see Colette's books on the shelves either and this has been on my list for a while). It was quite nice shopping in a B&N that has four full floors! I spent a lot of time browsing there. I expected the fiction and mystery sections to be larger, but they still seemed to have quite a few authors that my local B&N doesn't carry. They had a full floor of just music and movies, and a nice children's section. While I enjoyed browsing big name specialty stores (Anthropologie, Pottery Barn, Tiffany's....) it is still nice going somewhere where you can actually afford to buy something and not just window shop (do I really want a $16 bar of handsoap? Can I really afford a tiny tube of hand cream that costs $21--even if it is made in the south of France?)! We were just in the Plaza area, and I have a feeling this is more of an upscale living/shopping area. The decorations were lovely, especially in the evening when it was dark and the lights were on. I do have to say, however, the lack of traffic lights (only stop signs) in a slightly high traffic area was a tad bit disconcerting. The cars are all just coming and going at different speeds and I was a little apprehensive to step foot out into the cross walk for fear of being run down, but alas they all stopped and let me cross. I wonder if Omaha drivers would be equally as good? And by the way...it was COLD there! All in all it was nice to get away (despite the cold), even if I didn't accomplish much Christmas shopping. Sometimes you just need that type of break. Of course I guess this weekend will be internet shopping-time for me! However hard I try and put it off, it simply has to be done. Why can I not find any shopping inspiration?
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I've been demoted. Sigh. I know this is completely and totally silly on my part, but it made my stomach twinge just a touch. Have you ever been on someone's blogroll and then found your link has disappeared? I just noticed that a more literary blog that had listed me (and I was thrilled when I noticed that) has removed me. I wonder what I did, or didn't do that made me disappear? I am sure I have more than a few links on my own blogroll to people who likely don't even know I exist and I read them quite regularly, so it isn't as though this is really anything new. It just makes one feel a bit sad to know you are simply not up to scruff (it feels a tad bit worse to have been on a list and then zapped than to have never been there to begin with). . . Alas, that is the way of the world...must grow a tougher skin. To those who have linked me--you are very kind and daring souls! Thank you.