Amazon 1, B&N 0.

In 1994, I read a really, incredibly interesting, disturbing book. I read it again in 2001. Each time I read it, it manages to infuriate me, make sense to me, appeal to me, and repulse me, all on a single page. A really conflicted yet thoughtful and well-written little book. Time to re-read. Only this time, there's somebody I would like to read it with! This epiphany came to me last Tuesday at Onion Creek during a great conversation. One does not meet such people anymore in today's drive-thru pop culture-oriented singles scene.

So I'm supposed to have this thing for Tuesday evening. My dogs ate my copy (seriously, they did) a year ago when I tried to get the other half at the time to read it, but was superseded by the autobio of Bill Clinton. WHAT? Wait, I digress. I need a copy of this book. Saturday, off to Borders - it's out of print. OK, they're sort of Wendy's-like when it comes to books - more upscale than Waldon or McDonald's but still not up to par. Off to Barnes & Noble: Out of print, but we can order you one from Outer Mongolia that will be here Friday, there's a $15 fee (the damned book only costs like $8 now, it's so old). OK, Friday's not gonna cut it. Wait, $15 to order it? WHAT? You have 241 million books in this huge place, it's the most upscale bookstore in HOUSTON, and 1. you don't have it (I'm no longer rational at this point) and 2. you have the gall to charge me 2x the cost of the book? "Sorry sir, it's contingency restocking fee." Oh, he called me sir. I feel old. Wander off with my tail between my legs and my ears sagging at 10 & 3 o'clock. Well not really, I just grumpily said "forget it" and ambled to the caffeiniteria with my ego slightly tarnished.

Checked B&N online: only used copies. No, a raggedly old paperback will not do. Amazon to the rescue! A NEW copy! Yay! It'll be here Tuesday, except I won't be home during the day so that's effectively Wednesday.

JUST NOW I thought, "Why didn't I have have it shipped to the office?", so I checked. Too late. Doh!! C'est la vie.