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April 28, 2005
Why Stephanie Pearl McPhee rocks my world
Some of you have already heard the first part of this story. But a look back through the comments tells me that you guys comment more when I write about knitting, and since I'm nothing but a comments whore and don't have any knitting stuff to show you (still working on the one project, and it's still top-secret), I can at least offer a knitting-related story.
Windsor has only one small independant bookseller who sells new books. A few weeks ago I had a disagreement with the owner of the store that left her mad at me (even though it was totally her fault). My CanLit professor had ordered all of our course books through her and since I'm poor and underemployed I bought them as I needed them throughout the semester. Peter went in one day to pick one up for me, and didn't notice that she charged him twenty dollars for a thirteen dollar book. So when I went in to pick up the last two books I needed I brought it up and she didn't believe me, couldn't read her own scrawl on the receipt, and tried to say that the receipt was for a different ($20) book, not for the book I had bought. In the end I got my seven dollars off my other books, but I didn't really want to face her again and ask her to order in Stephanie's book for me, because I know she still thinks I'm a liar; I noticed her trying to glare a hole through me at a poetry reading a week later. Unless she was just thinking I was a disrespectful asshole for knitting during the readings. Anyway she also smokes in the store and that pisses me off enough to not want to buy from her anymore.
Instead I went to Big Name Book Chain, in Windsor's only mall. We try to avoid this mall whenever possible, because it's an unholy place that sucks your soul out through the bottom of your shoes (Peter's back gets sore every time we go there, so it's obvious that it must have evil soul-sucking floors. They look like innocent terrazzo but this isn't the same kind of terrazzo your high school had, unless you went to an evil soul-sucking high school). We had to go there, though, for a friend's birthday dinner (Laura, I've decided not to post the picture I took of you looking totally cute and holding up your favourite birthday present, the vibrating cock ring, because I don't want to be responsible for the Google hit that will bring down your political career. You can thank me by not making me go to that mall restaurant and eat that bland reheated food again).
So. Big Name Book Chain. We checked the knitting section and the book wasn't there. Not willing to subject ourselves to the hell that is searching BNBC for a book, we asked someone: while the computer said they had 8 copies, apparently they were lost in the store somewhere, mis-shelved. Not on the table they were supposed to be on. So we checked every table in the store, and in all kinds of places like self-help, humour, the "Mom's night out" section, and the place where all of the horrible daily-affirmation crap is. No book.
In desperation I went home and posted to the RAOK list to see if someone in Canada could go pick me up one and mail it to me, and offered to send the money by paypal. Stephanie, generous soul that she is, immediately wrote back that she would send me a book, as a gift. And it arrived today.
Why are there two books in the photo? In the meantime, even though we try so hard to stay away, we had to go back to the mall to look for a birthday present for Peter's sister. We found ourselves back at Big Name Book Chain, and immediately inside the door, there were Stephanie's books. On the Mother's Day table (YES, I looked there. Twice. They weren't there). I thought it was only right that I buy a copy and send it to someone else.
The one on the left is about to become dog-eared and tea-stained very quickly. The other one is going on a little plane ride first.
Posted by jodi at April 28, 2005 12:24 PM | categories: sticks and string : true patriot love
Comments
Isn't EVERY high school an evil, soul-sucking place?
Posted by: chris at April 28, 2005 03:22 PM
What a wonderful story, Jodi. The recipient of the bookbookbook is going to be in for such a pleasant surprise :)
Posted by: Kelly at April 28, 2005 03:53 PM
That was very nice of you to share the wealth. Super nice of her to give you one. I am beginning to believe knitters are the best and most considerate people on Earth!
Posted by: Micky at April 28, 2005 06:15 PM
looks like a great book! i am going to have to secure myself a copy.
all malls should be blown up asap, before they become hell mouths like in Buffy...
anyway, good luck with the top secret knitting! we want photos asap
Posted by: sophie at April 29, 2005 01:18 AM
I really need to get me a copy of that. What an great story!
Posted by: Carrie at April 29, 2005 09:01 AM
My copy is in my "main" project bag. I love to read a few pages before I knit.
That's really cool Jodi. Super cool that you're paying it forward. I agree, seems knitters are a very giving bunch.
Now about malls, thanks for giving me the focus on why I hate them. I feel better knowing I'm not the only one.
Posted by: Sandy at April 29, 2005 03:04 PM
Well, Ms. Comment Whore. I have nothing to say, really, that hasn't already been said about a bajillion times, so I'm just leaving you a comment because you're a comment whore. That's all. ;-D
Posted by: Norma at April 30, 2005 09:57 AM
Atta girl. You are definitely sweeter than pie.
Posted by: stephanie at May 1, 2005 11:40 PM
Oh my gosh, one of my best friends is from Windsor, Ontario!!!!!! Wacky.
Posted by: laurie at May 2, 2005 02:16 PM