Introverts, how is your day?

[Arcadia]

Ugh, aren't magazines awful now? They're all trying to look like an internet page. I flip through them when I'm in the dr's office or some such place, and despair. The Smithsonian and National Geo are still pretty nice, though.

Someone must be buying those books at top dollar, or they wouldn't be there for the recycling.....

I never did buy reference books, I figured that's what the library was for. But I do still like to add to my collection of novels now and again … when I can find something that sustains my interest enough. I admit I'm not the reader I used to be. I regret that, but my attention span seems to be shorter, or something. Or maybe it's the free time that's lacking. Although I could get off this forum and go read a book instead.  

[Pseudonym]

I think most of my books were bought new. 

[Arcadia]

I suspect most of mine were too … until they became so frickin' expensive. But I think most of my collection is at least 10 years old, most of it a lot older. I still have the King Arthur book my sis gave me when I was 9.

[Pseudonym]

I'm pretty sure my copy of The Hobbit is older than I am since it was my brother's first. 

[Carol the Dabbler]

I have my father's Nero Wolfe collection (and his Perry Mason as well, though I'd like to find a new home for that).  And loads of books that I bought new -- SF novels, gardening books, recipe books, etc.  But as Arcadia said, I can rarely justify spending what it costs to buy a new book these days.  So if I'm in a book-browsing mood, I head to Half-Price Books.  Some of their books actually *are* new, they've just been remaindered, while others are "gently pre-owned."  Doing my part to keep 'em out of the landfill!

[Arcadia]

I'm on my 3rd or 4th copy of both The Hobbit and LOTR, I literally read the covers (and spines) off the others. (Also I loaned a set to my brother and the rascal never returned it. Tsk.) I really wanted to buy a all-in-one volume hardback version but couldn't justify the cost … and then I got to thinking how heavy it would be! So I bought a somewhat deluxe paperback version instead.

[Carol the Dabbler]

My current favorite is the movie tie-in Hobbit, with a nice shot of Bilbo walking out of his door.  My first was the set of paperbacks with the pink covers.  And I recently bought a set of used paperbacks specifically for underlining and making notes in.  Alex has a nice little boxed set of (I think, not home right now) just LotR with hard covers, divvied up the way JRRT intended, so each volume is thin (plus they're not large print), so the individual books are not heavy at all, more like a paperback Hobbit. 

[Artemis]

18 minutes ago, Arcadia said:

I'm on my 3rd or 4th copy of both The Hobbit and LOTR, I literally read the covers (and spines) off the others.

Ditto, lol.

I have more old books than new ones, I rarely buy new.  I also rarely get rid of books, so most of them I've had around since I was little, from garage sales, or hand-me-downs from older relatives.

I tend to prefer paperback because I think they're easier to hold.  I'd only buy hardback if I wanted a fancy leather-bound that I wasn't planning on reading.  I'd like to get a fancy copy of The Hobbit and LotR, but I've never been able to justify spending the money on it yet.  Someday...

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

There's a beautiful, very useful book on perennial flowers that I bought new in hardcover and have read many, many times.  The same author wrote a companion book on annual flowers, but I didn't know till I saw it remaindered as a trade paperback from the same press.  Not knowing if I'd ever find the hardback, I bought it and have read it many, many times as well.

Funny thing is, the pages are literally falling out of the hardback, but the paperback (which has had roughly the same amount of use) is still in fine condition.  You might say, you can't judge a book by its cover.

 

[Artemis]

Another reason I like paperback, they usually last longer than hardback because of the way they are bound.  Hardback spines fall apart quicker.

 

[Artemis]

I hate that all the movie theaters around here are replacing their seats with the reclinable "loveseat" style.  First of all there's the annoying assumption that I wouldn't possibly go to a movie alone.  But what's more annoying is that every time I reserve a seat now, I have to go through the guesswork of picking a seat where someone will be least likely to sit next to me, lest I end up on a loveseat with a complete stranger.

 

[Pseudonym]

I have a beautiful illustrated version of The Hobbit by Alan Lee. I love the pictures in that so much. 

Loveseats in the cinema?! What fresh hell is this?! None of our cinemas have that thank you very much!

[Arcadia]

And reserve seating? Two trends I hope don't reach my area!

[Carol the Dabbler]

2 hours ago, Pseudonym said:

I have a beautiful illustrated version of The Hobbit by Alan Lee. I love the pictures in that so much. 

Ooh, I'd love to see that!

2 hours ago, Pseudonym said:

Loveseats in the cinema?! What fresh hell is this?! None of our cinemas have that thank you very much!

One time Alex and I went to see a movie near the end of its run.  When we came in, we noticed a double-wide seat that we thought might be for a parent with young children.  When it became clear that nobody else was coming, we moved into it and (since we were alone) we  cuddled -- a very nice experience!  Then we started seeing similar seats in waiting rooms and found out they were actually for people for whom the regular seats were uncomfortably narrow.

So I've never seen actual double seats in a theater either.

[Pseudonym]

Lol, the last time my father was in hospital me and my mother were visiting the same and there was only one visitors chair next to the bed - I don't know who it was intended for because we both sat on it side my side next to each other with no problems. And had to sit forward to stop our feet dangling. 

[Artemis]

3 hours ago, Pseudonym said:

Loveseats in the cinema?! What fresh hell is this?! None of our cinemas have that thank you very much!

 

1 hour ago, Arcadia said:

And reserve seating? Two trends I hope don't reach my area!

Oh yes, they are very popular and growing in popularity.  Theaters that switch over are always full and bringing in more money than ever.  Nearly all the theaters near me have already made the switch, and the ones that haven’t are dying.  I’m sure before long they will be coming to a theater near you...

 

[Artemis]

Anyway, I have reserved my seat for "Frankenstein" on October 22.  Hoping against hope that no one buys the seat next to me.  If anyone does they are going to get my death glare.

 

[Artemis]

The moon tonight was amaaaazing!  It was humongous and orange, the orangest I've ever seen.  Like a big pumpkin on the horizon.  I only got a peek for a few moments before it disappeared behind black clouds, but it was awesome.

 

[Arcadia]

6 hours ago, Artemis said:

Oh yes, they are very popular and growing in popularity.  Theaters that switch over are always full and bringing in more money than ever.  Nearly all the theaters near me have already made the switch, and the ones that haven’t are dying.  I’m sure before long they will be coming to a theater near you...

NooOOOooOOOOooooo!!!!

[J.P.]

Talking about LOTR. I realized that there are adult people in this world who have never seen it in cinemas. I'm feeling so old.

[Carol the Dabbler]

2 minutes ago, J.P. said:

Talking about LOTR. I realized that there are adult people in this world who have never seen it in cinemas. I'm feeling so old.

My mother's a hundred, and she's never seen it at all -- you must be really old!

 

 

[J.P.]

[Van Buren Supernova]

4 hours ago, J.P. said:

Talking about LOTR. I realized that there are adult people in this world who have never seen it in cinemas. I'm feeling so old.

Ummmmm... I have never seen it in cinemas.

I wish that means I am young, but nooooo... it just means I don't like it enough to bother.

 

[Pseudonym]

I saw it LOADS in the cinema, but that's mainly because it came out when I was a teenager who liked to bunk off school and needed somewhere to hide.

We have epic sea mist here this morning. I love mist, makes the mundane look mysterious.

[Van Buren Supernova]

WTF..

There is another new guy at work, and he doesn't give very good impression because he sorts of giving the vibe of know-it-all without showing that he is capable yet.  He is a bit entitled to my colleagues (despite having no right or rank to do so) but has been 'nice' and smiley to me and trying to strike conversation. Maybe its because my colleagues also don't bother about him and since I am the only girl, he thought I would be friendlier. 

But NOT, I have been ignoring him so far, much more than others because I am busy, he is not exactly lovable, and because that is what I do, I don't play close to stranger easily.

But today, all of the sudden he came to my desk, holding a cup of coffee and call my name quite loudly, as if it's something pretty urgent. I was obviously busy, with earphone and buried under paper and stationary. So I was surprised and look up "What?!"

And what happens? I don't think anyone would have guessed what he was about to say. He smiled, played with his cup, got closer and said,
"SO, how many children do you have?"

I couldn't believe my ears and asked What??!!?! which he repeated the same question one more time.

WHAT!!! I mean, f off!! Is that a way to insert yourself into a smalltalk? Do those visual thingy attached below to your forehead have any function to see what the other person is doing? And do you not have a clue about how willing I am to make small talk with you, let alone power walk to my table and shout my name with oh god almighty that important personal question I would sure appreciate eh stranger when I am obviously trying to work??!

So I shout back NONE!!! It must be obvious that I was annoyed because he quickly turned around and made a beeline to his desk.

GEEZ!!!