Tuesday, September 29, 2009

best telemarketing call in a minute

gal on phone:
Hello, this is Melissa with Pacebuilder Corporation and we're interested in buying any cell phone scrap you have to sell.

me:
Um...we're a used book store.

gal, flustered:
Oh...really? Are you sure you're not a recycling company?

me:
I suppose we recycle books....but we don't deal in cell phones.

gal:
Oh, very sorry! Good afternoon!

Monday, September 28, 2009

True Customer Tales

wide-eyed young lady: This is kind of random, but do you know if there's a witchcraft or Wicca store in town?

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Anatomy of Nostalgia

Ran across a book with the title "Where Did You Go?" "Out." "What Did You Do?" "Nothing." by Robert Paul Smith, subtitled How it was when you were a kid- and how things have deteriorated since.

Publication date: 1957.

So much for Happy Days!

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

depressing

Young gal with a baby under one arm and the symbol of Chaos tattooed on her cleavage just asked me if we mailed books to the jail.

GRATZ to Meggsie!

Her college of choice welcomed her with open arms today.

In light of this display of wisdom and perspicacity, I take back my rude comments regarding their online application system and usurious application fee.

We'll be making a celebratory visit to Sage Eco Gardens to pick out an appropriate Commemorative Tree soon.

Monday, September 14, 2009

not all that retro video: Black Keys



I want to weave a magic carpet from the sound of that guitar and ride it to Oz.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Oh my

If true, this will make the value of my gorgeous 1st edition of the book go through the roof.

I picked it up at the dawn of the internet bookselling boom for 20 bucks because I love Tim Powers. I have perfect 1st's of all his greatest works- On Stranger Tides, Stress of Her Regard, Last Call.

In bookselling as in art, you can't go wrong buying what you like.
Sometimes you'll even turn a profit.

Saturday, September 12, 2009

true customer tales

A tiny old lady comes in looking for a new book we haven't got, then sticks around for a bit of a monologue.

"I'm almost blind you know...almost....I can't get anybody to read for me anymore. Well, anyone good...they're all, they're all idiots around here. This used to be a nice town, you know? Now it's all....it's getting crummy. The eye doctor...I know four people who won suits against him. I could tell you things. Getting crummy...well, guess its time to move along."

Monday, September 7, 2009

retro video: TUBES

Fuss's new favorite book



My Booky Wook by Russel Brand.

It was my nighttime read last week, when Fuss was popping awake at about ten. He would sit up and point at the pages and laugh along. The wife's efforts to interest him in something more age appropriate were met with arm-waving disdain. He would shove the board book away, crawl over me and drag My Booky Wook back from where I'd hidden it, patting the cover and smiling.

This morning I woke up and he was sitting next to me, book in hand, chortling happily to himself.
Fortunately the camera was nearby to document this formative event.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

True Customer Tales

gal wanders up to counter.

Do you have your calendars yet?

It being (barely) September, I do a double take and say "excuse me?"

gal: Do you have your calendars yet, you usually have your calendars now.

me: They usually show up in late November or early December.

gal: *stares at me blankly then wanders away*

True Customer Tale UPDATE

Today leads off with a call from the son of yesterday's serial caller ringing up to ask the same questions because "mom is a little bit confused".

I supply the details, he thanks me and hopefully that'll be the end of it until these legendary cookbooks roll through the door.