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Good Hunting Yesterday
Nov. 17th, 2011 12:48 pmSo, yesterday I went to get new comics... got:
New Mutants #34 (bit blah)
I skipped NM #33 because it wasn't easily findable on the shelves, and I didn't want to go digging through stacks, but I'd read it online (it came out only 2 weeks after the issue before, and I didn't want to make a long trip again for one comic).
At the used bookstores, I made some decent finds... first, and foremost, I FINALLY found a copy of Vernor Vinge's "Marooned In Realtime". Been looking forever for it, and it was a surprisingly good price, too. This means that I now own every novel written by him (although the first few are a little weak). There's still a collection of his short stories I want to get eventually, but it's not as pressing a need. So, yay!
Also, picked up Cetaganda, by Lois McMaster Bujold, one of her Miles Vorkosigan series. Unfortunately I've reached the point in that series where I can't remember which books I've read and which I haven't, but this is one I know I haven't and it was set in somewhat earlier days from where the series was when the book was written so I don't have to worry about spoiling other books I haven't read.
I also had a new personal goal, and promptly failed in it! Well, mostly. Here's the story. Recently, I decided as part of a small-scale "try new things" philosophy, that whenever I go do the downtown walk for new comics/used bookstores, I will make an effort to buy lunch and try something I've never tried before. No traditional branded fast food restaurants, and if I have a specific meal I've tried before I have to do it in a place I've never tried. Because I've always passed a number of restaurants and seen menus with things that look like they might be ood, but for a variety of reason (ranging from cheapness - a desire not to pay for a meal I might wind up hating, to the absurd shyness and self-consciousness that imprisons me normally, by risking mispronouncing something or not making myself understood), never taken the plunge. Well, I decided to change that.
And yes, I did make this decision while watching the latest Simpsons episode where they become Foodies, but that's a mere coincidence. If you think the Simpsons has any influence on my mind, well, that's just a load of rich, creamery butter.
Anyway, I had the plan, but I failed. I did eat a meal on the way home, but it was a gyro from a gyro place I've been to before.
Several things went into this failure. 1) before I made this new resolution, I'd decided "Hey, I'll have a gyro every time I go get comics/books", and even though I had to sacrifice that, my heart still craved that last gyro.
2) As I was walking, I kept hoping for a place that would jump out for the first place I tried, and although I passed many potential candidates, I skipped them in favor of what might come further down on the walk home. But by the time I got to the gyro place, I realized it was probably my last chance for a decent meal. Now I have better idea of what's out there I hope next time I can make a better decision.
3) I have been at somewhat of a low ebb of confidence recently. Read behind the cut for the boring details, they're not really important and a bit long and whiny, included only for the chance it might help people understand people like me. ( Read more... )Suffice it to say, stepping out of my comfort zone was probably a little harder then it should have been.
However, gyros should not go without comment, and it was a very good gyro (but the lemon/tzatziki/grease that had accumulated towards the end did drip and get on my shirt... oops).
New Mutants #34 (bit blah)
I skipped NM #33 because it wasn't easily findable on the shelves, and I didn't want to go digging through stacks, but I'd read it online (it came out only 2 weeks after the issue before, and I didn't want to make a long trip again for one comic).
At the used bookstores, I made some decent finds... first, and foremost, I FINALLY found a copy of Vernor Vinge's "Marooned In Realtime". Been looking forever for it, and it was a surprisingly good price, too. This means that I now own every novel written by him (although the first few are a little weak). There's still a collection of his short stories I want to get eventually, but it's not as pressing a need. So, yay!
Also, picked up Cetaganda, by Lois McMaster Bujold, one of her Miles Vorkosigan series. Unfortunately I've reached the point in that series where I can't remember which books I've read and which I haven't, but this is one I know I haven't and it was set in somewhat earlier days from where the series was when the book was written so I don't have to worry about spoiling other books I haven't read.
I also had a new personal goal, and promptly failed in it! Well, mostly. Here's the story. Recently, I decided as part of a small-scale "try new things" philosophy, that whenever I go do the downtown walk for new comics/used bookstores, I will make an effort to buy lunch and try something I've never tried before. No traditional branded fast food restaurants, and if I have a specific meal I've tried before I have to do it in a place I've never tried. Because I've always passed a number of restaurants and seen menus with things that look like they might be ood, but for a variety of reason (ranging from cheapness - a desire not to pay for a meal I might wind up hating, to the absurd shyness and self-consciousness that imprisons me normally, by risking mispronouncing something or not making myself understood), never taken the plunge. Well, I decided to change that.
And yes, I did make this decision while watching the latest Simpsons episode where they become Foodies, but that's a mere coincidence. If you think the Simpsons has any influence on my mind, well, that's just a load of rich, creamery butter.
Anyway, I had the plan, but I failed. I did eat a meal on the way home, but it was a gyro from a gyro place I've been to before.
Several things went into this failure. 1) before I made this new resolution, I'd decided "Hey, I'll have a gyro every time I go get comics/books", and even though I had to sacrifice that, my heart still craved that last gyro.
2) As I was walking, I kept hoping for a place that would jump out for the first place I tried, and although I passed many potential candidates, I skipped them in favor of what might come further down on the walk home. But by the time I got to the gyro place, I realized it was probably my last chance for a decent meal. Now I have better idea of what's out there I hope next time I can make a better decision.
3) I have been at somewhat of a low ebb of confidence recently. Read behind the cut for the boring details, they're not really important and a bit long and whiny, included only for the chance it might help people understand people like me. ( Read more... )Suffice it to say, stepping out of my comfort zone was probably a little harder then it should have been.
However, gyros should not go without comment, and it was a very good gyro (but the lemon/tzatziki/grease that had accumulated towards the end did drip and get on my shirt... oops).
