Hitchhiker Day One...An Introduction

I just got home from work at Barnes and Noble this evening. I made a pit stop to a diner with Dena. We went to Golden Apple on the corner of Diversey and Lincoln. Very good. I had chili and ate some of her pancakes and a bite of her feta omelette. We had a laugh attack because of movie quoting (most specifically Mel Brooks' Dracula Dead and Loving It and The Last of the Mohicans as Dena is canoeing in the booth singing the theme music).

As I mentioned in last night's blog...written exactly 20 minutes before this time yesterday...I felt as though I would have to work at Gap...sure enough, I did. I slept into the time I was supposed to work. My schedule was not sent to me. I was a no call, no show. I guess I am officially documented somewhere. Too bad that is the first time something like that has EVER happened to me. But, rest assured, I have nothing but grad class tomorrow night. Tuesday will be reading, gym, maybe some laundry and moving my car.

Tonight was not too bad of a late night at B&N. We got out relatively early. I think there were only two little carts of strict on sale for today. I was able to tidy kids...a lot. The store was a MADHOUSE when I walked in. I made the picturebook wall look pretty again; I made sure to fill it with some of our MOUNTAINS of plush.

I was informed tonight I had yet another missed connection from this Barnes and Noble. I swear bookstores must be for hooking up these days. It is so interesting the dynamic that comes through. This is the missed connection about me posted yesterday. I was helping someone with a Nook:
"You had me at Hello!"
This morning I walked into the store and was browsing. Suddenly, you were there saying hello. We talked about the book I was looking for and the Nook. All I could see or think about was how very handsome, bright, outgoing, and personable you were. Those hairy arms did not help me focus either. My experience teaches that if you are on my team you must be taken or would never consider time with someone my age. Wish I was going on the trip I told you about with you. So, hope springs eternal...just maybe you'd like to have dinner or show me how to operate my new Nook...not that I could actuallt pay attention to that with you there. When they were giving out personality and looks you must have gotten first in line. Your first name is one of the four major saints of Ireland and its not Albie.

Wow. I feel like I am zoning the Harlequin romance novels. Barnes and Noble, what can I say?

So...now what I am really here for tonight...A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Chapters 1-3 read today on eliptical at gym. This would be pages 1-26. My eliptical workout was 25 mins: 364 cals burnt, 2.69 miles, 26 pages....music of choice: In the Heights.

There is a brief prologue to the book that describes the nature of things. Chapter One opens with Arthur Dent defending his house from a Genghis Kahn bloodlined Mr. Prosser from tearing down his house for a bypass. Prosser is tormented by thoughts of men in furry hats on horses and the lust for killing but not knowing why. He is a nervous man with authority and no ideas on how to harness it. Arthur refuses to let his house be demolished by Prosser's men and decides to lie in front of the bulldozers (so Greenpeacey). Prosser cannot react in a manner that makes Dent budge. We are introduced to Ford Prefect who is a friend of Dent. Prefect is an alien from Betelguese disguised as a struggling actor. Prefect knows the world is about to end and comes to Dent to tell him they have to talk. Prefect convinces Prosser to lie in front of the bulldozers until he and Dent get back from a bar.

Chapter 2 takes us to the bar where Prefect informs Dent he is an alien and that the world is about to end. Dent's house is demolished. Chapter 3 brings the arrival of the aliens to demolish earth for the inter-galactic freeway. Everyone is to be vaporized. This seems almost pre-Vish to me.

The first part has been enjoyable to me. I think I will finish this relatively quickly. The humor is British and witty. It almost has a Hyacinth Bucket feel (it is pronounced Bouquet).

Let's see how far I get tommorow. For now, it is time to get ready to go to bed. Gotta wake up at 8:50 to move la voiture. C'est la friggin' vie. :) Bons reves. Oh...and this is a pic of the inside of my B&N.

As far as I can tell, this blogging thing is going to be about my reading and my experiences at Barnes and Noble.

OH OH OH...the new 2010 Newbery Award was announced today: Rebecca Stead's When You Reach Me.
The 2010 Caldecott Winner was announced today, as well. Jerry Pinkney's The Lion and the Mouse. It is ABSOLUTELY incredible!!! You should check it out!
I love books! :)