Lots of snow, sleet and rain here in the city. I do love watching it fall outside my window, knowing that I don’t have to shovel. Apologies, Don! But really, it’s so nice to know I can enjoy it, without wondering how I’m going to clear everything out and drive on the slushy and/or icy roads. Reminds me of my apartment days in Philadelphia and Boston, both of which accumulate a lot of snow in the wintertime. Yes, I have to walk in it, but hey, that’s nothing!
I went back to The Mysterious Bookshop and then, as if my feet had a GPS of their own, found myself at Billy’s Bakery. It wasn’t open. Oh no, I thought. Not open on Saturday? Then I saw someone inside and looked more closely at the posted hours. They didn’t open until noon and it was about 11:50. So I contented myself with finding the address for Whole Foods in Tribeca. I wanted a good lunch from their food bar – I’ve not been eating as well as I usually do – it’s a problem with being on the road for a relatively short time on a budget and with no per diem. Then the door to Billy’s magically opened and I bought three more cupcakes. Yellow daisy. I had one yesterday, will have one today, and – you guessed it – will have one tomorrow. Ummm-mmmm good!
Back to the bookshop. I want to work there. Wouldn’t it be heavenly to order books, sort them, put them on the shelves, and have lovely chats with customers about what books to buy, about recommendations, about the authors? All in that wonderful shop with tall bookshelves made of darkly finished wood? With a glass case full of rare books? With a leather sofa to sink into?
The only drawback: a three hour commute every day. That does put a damper on things.
I bought three more books:
The books by Christopher Fowler are part of a series about two men, Arthur Bryant and John May, called the Peculiar Crimes Unit Mysteries. I believe I have the first one in the series at home – still unread. They are supposed to be wonderful and the man I spoke to yesterday confirmed that. He said he loves them.
The Last Detective by Peter Lovesey has an introduction by Louise Penny where she says that this book “changed to the face of detective fiction when it was released in 1991. It broke every template, every tradition, every ‘rule’ of the genre.” She’s a huge fan of the series. So, of course, I bought the book.
When I’m going to get the time to read all of these with my list of “To be Reviewed” books quite lengthy, I don’t know. But they will be there, on my bookshelves, waiting for me. Meanwhile, I finished the Olen Steinhauer book yesterday. I think I’ll start Cara Black’s Murder in Belleville. Not sure yet.
I’ve sent off a note to the director to find out if I can leave tomorrow. Fingers crossed. My family needs me. I need them. I need to nuzzle my nose into the hair on Scoutie’s head. I love her scent. I need to hug my husband. I’m grateful for this job and the opportunity to spend some time in Brooklyn, but I need my sunny little cottage.
You understand.
A review of The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry on Just Let Me Finish This Page today.
Happy Sunday.
So glad you were able to get back to the wonderful bookshop, along with a trip to the fabulous bakery! And THREE cupcakes!! yay! I think that having 3 cupcakes in the house would make this awful weather tolerable. I need to get on that!
Looking at those books ~ each one is so pretty and just waiting to become a reading memory for you. Such fun ahead. I hope you get a positive response from your note and that you will soon be giving Scout some ear skritches and Don a hug. Home is truly where our hearts are.
Headed home tomorrow, Chris! I got the All Clear.
Three cupcakes..three new mysteries…dare I say nirvana? I’d be tempted to put in an application to work at the bookstore, even if they weren’t advertising for the job, except for that long commute. Hope the director let’s you go…you need to get home! ;)
If the long commute wasn’t an issue, I’d be in there filling out an application ASAP.
You have unbelievable self control. There is no way that I could buy three cupcakes and only eat one a day. They would all be gone the first day! :-)
Hope you are back in your own home real soon.
Tomorrow, Cathy!
Hi Claudia. I’ve enjoyed following your travels to the big city. We have a lovely little bookstore in our town that I adore. My husband is always in awe I can spend 3 hours there and be totally surprised it felt like one. I want to encourage you to read Christopher Fowler. His characters are wonderful. I just want to hang with those two elderly gentlemen to see what they will do next (a little like hanging out in Three Pines). Just enough silly fun and dark combined.
Good luck with that snow. Here in CO where we should have the same, it has been 2 weeks of 50 deg. Not good.
Be safe getting home. Verna
The books look wonderful and all the blurbs promise great reading! Yes, you’re right – you should be getting snow in CO!
Three cupcakes..three days..sounds good to me..those Christopher Fowler books sound interesting..I will put them on my list of books to look for..I do hope you can go home tomorrow..
Got the All Clear, Nancy. Headed home in the late morning, after I clean up around here and write a thank you note to the owner.
There is an independent bookstore one block from my front door and I always think what a joy it would be to work there surrounded by books. The owner provides a level of service that simply doesn’t exist at the big chain store in town.
Sadly we do not have a cupcake store in town. People here eat doughnuts, not cupcakes, and aren’t about to change. Something came across my desk recently about a company that was opening a 24 hour cupcake ATM in Beverly Hills. Imagine that! Did you ever visit Beverly Hills when you lived in California? It sounds very exciting, if a bit unreal.
There’s a 24 hour cupcake dispenser in Manhattan, as well. I read about it a few months back. I can’t remember where it is, however. But I’ll have to check that out next time I’m in town. I’ve been in Beverly Hills, yes, and lots of L.A. neighborhoods.
Glad you are so close to going home. Will Don come get you? Glad you are close to the bookstore and the bakery! That helps a little being away from home. Know Don and Scout will be thrilled to have you home
Judy
I’ll take the bus home, Judy. Subway into Manhattan, transfer at one stop to a line that goes into Port Authority. Then buy a bus ticket, then home. It will take about 3 hours all told. Don will pick me up at the bus station in our neighboring town. He can’t wait. He never truly understands all I do until he has to do it….
Love that you got more cupcakes. I almost said something yesterday when you mentioned going to the bookstore again…great minds and all that. The new books sound fabulous. I think that having unread books on my shelves is like an insurance policy to me that I won’t be without a new book to read no matter when I want it. Silly? But important to my book reading addiction! Hope you get to go home tomorrow.
hugs,
Linda
It’s the best insurance policy because, let’s face it, the thought of having nothing to read is horrifying!
I hear Don and Scout calling your name and saying time to come home! Doris
They are. Don is tired of doing everything that I have to do normally, plus all the snowplowing, etc. I’ll be glad to get home! I’ve had an awfully nice time here, though.
Glad you are enjoying the neighborhood and shoveling reprieve! If I sent you a check would you be willing to send me the cupcake box lid? I’m in love with that logo and would frame it for my kitchen. My husband’s name is Billy. Or maybe you will want it. It just makes me so happy!
The lid has stains on it, Beth, from the cupcakes being jostled in the box on the way home. You wouldn’t want it, believe me. I know the mug costs a lot to ship, but it’s really heavy and solid. What about something else they sell, like one of their tote bags or a t-shirt?
Working in a bookstore is my dream job too, Claudia. After winning the lottery, I’ll be building my dream home [dream cottage, really] and opening my own children’s bookstore. With a Great Books club, and daily story hours, and weekend family activities, and writing workshops for kids etc etc. Thirty years of ideas to implement – for both the store and the house – what fun! PS – just checked out Billy’s website and now I want some Lemon Silk Pie and a Yellow Daisy cupcake too. I’m a sucker for good buttery yellow cake – with [although I’m not a chocoholic at any stretch] creamy CREAMY deep chocolate frosting. Enjoy your Sunday & hope you’re able to get home soon.
The thought of lottery wins makes us all fantasize! I’d love to have a little bookstore, as well. Charming, with lots of books and reading groups and coffee and snacks…
Fingers crossed that you can go home soon!
Headed home tomorrow, Wendy!
Hurray! Safe travel, Claudia.
I’m glad you will be going home! Have a safe trip :)
Hugs,
Deb