I Am Not Making This Up!

Dave Barry spoke at the Tattered Cover Bookstore in Lower Downtown Denver last night, and it was a tremendous success.  The place was packed, and with good reason.  Dave Barry has a wonderful sense of humor that makes his appearances a real treat.  Not only that, he is also very wily.  Most authors appear at the appointed time, speak for a while, and then sign books.  At this point, I usually get up and leave.  However, Barry obviously has the ability to see through a devoted cheapskate's plans.  Last night he showed up half-an-hour early and announced he was going to come into the audience and sign books right where we sat.  What are you going to say when he walks up to you and offers to personalize the book in your hand?  When he walked up to me, I told him that of course I wanted him to personalize the inscription .  He wrote "David, stay sane" and then signed his name on the title page.  His book is titled "Insane City," so I am sure he wrote the same thing in everyone's book, right?  Although I must say he did look at me pretty strangely as he handed the book back to me.  Probably just my imagination.

The Morning Crew

Emilie (in the photograph on the left) and Trish (on the right) are the morning crew at the DU Bookstore most days.  Emilie (against almost everyone's advice) has become an official follower of this Blog.  Trish has steadfastly refused to have her photograph taken for this Blog for the past year or so, but finally agreed to have it taken today, most likely because I have such a horrible cold and she felt sorry for me.  This has given me a great idea for future Blog postings.  The more miserable I am, the more likely people will let me take their photograph.  I have always been told you have to suffer for your art, and now I realize it is absolutely true.

Kelsey Returns!

Kelsey, a student employee at the DU Bookstore, returned to the University of Denver this quarter after a semester abroad in Israel.  Kelsey studied in Haifa, and was able to tour most of the country during her stay, with the exception of the southern part of Israel, which was constantly being shelled (no sense of adventure, in my opinion).  Kelsey noticed that each region of Israel has its own distinctive identity and character.  A former Bookstore employee who moved to Israel a few years ago seconded this opinion when he decided to move to a suburb of Tel Aviv instead of Jerusalem, which he felt was too Orthodox for him (this from someone who once wanted to be a Rabbi).  In any case, I tend to believe that deep down everyone (with the exception of certain parts of New Jersey) is the same.  And before you cranky New Jersey people get all bent out of shape,  that is an old Woody Allen joke, so go complain to him.

A Weekend Of Movies

I watched three movies in three days this weekend, if you include Monday as a weekend day (and it is my Blog, so I will) and four movies if you count the movie I saw last weekend.  All took place in Southwestern or Southern Asia and were recommended to me by my friend Valarie.  Two of the movies (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Monsoon Wedding) took place in India, which coincidentally is where Valarie and her daughter Cheyanne plan to attend a wedding at the end of the year.  After watching these two movies, I must admit I am very envious.  India looks like a fascinating country.  I think it will be well worth a visit, despite the crowds,  the hassles, the erratic weather, and the general atmosphere of chaos everywhere you go.  And that's just when you change planes.  Good luck planning out your trip, Valarie and Cheyanne.

Pizza At The Bonnie Brae Tavern

Wally - my friend and colleague at the DU Bookstore - and his wife Linda (seen in the photograph above) treated me to pizza and beer Friday night at the Bonnie Brae Tavern after we attended our co-worker Carol's Opening Night Reception at the SPARK Gallery.  I hadn't seen Linda for a while, and wanted to talk with her about Wally's plans for their retirement.  As faithful readers know, Wally would like to retire to Halifax, Nova Scotia.  He envisions living in a converted warehouse down by the wharf, sitting by the fireplace reading his books, occasionally looking out to sea, while his wife Linda is out driving in the frigid Halifax winter weather, buying groceries, running errands, paying bills...  In the evenings Wally envisions dictating his memoirs to Linda, who would be devotedly taking down his words at the writing stand he has already built for that purpose.  I told Linda it sounded like a great idea, but I don't think she is convinced.  Linda told me if I thought it sounded that great, maybe I should go to Halifax with Wally instead.  On second thought, perhaps it's not such a great idea.  In any case, thanks for the pizza and beer, Linda and Wally!

Out On A Limb

Carol, our friend and colleague at the DU Bookstore, is also a very talented artist and is exhibiting her work through February 24th at the SPARK Gallery (9th and Santa Fe here in Denver).  Last night was the Opening Reception for her new show, "Out on a Limb," and most of the DU Bookstore gang was there, including Wally and his wife Linda, Brittney (the Bookstore's Assistant Manager), Patti and her friend Linda, Customer Service Associate Trish, and former Bookstore employee Ceci.  We all went there to support Carol at her Opening, and we did a bang up job of it, standing around in front of her etchings, cheerfully blocking them from the view of paying customers.  Glad we could be there for you, Carol!  Check out Carol's work at www.caroltill.com.

Robert Crais Visits The Tattered Cover

I drove over to the Tattered Cover last night after getting off work at the DU Bookstore in order to hear mystery writer Robert Crais talk about his new book "Suspect."  The place was packed.  Fortunately, I was able to find a seat in the second row, although it was kind of cramped.  An older lady was seated directly in front of me.  I had my knees back as far as they could go in the narrow second row, but they still kept touching her coat, which was draped over the back of her chair.  Each time my knees touched her jacket, she turned around and gave me a look that would stop a wildebeest in its tracks.  I was very pleased to see that Crais' talk and autographing session was such a success, but the entire time I kept wondering whether any minute the lady in front of me would turn around and take a swing at me.  I decided not to buy the book, opting instead to leave quickly and avoid a fist fight.  On the bright side, I can always buy the book on the internet for six dollars in another month or so.  Still another advantage of the World Wide Web!  It not only gives you low prices, but you can also avoid ugly incidents!