Retirement: Online Art Workshops

It's not too often that a book will make me gasp:

Rule #1: When you don't have any money, do not upon any circumstances visit the Comic Book store and the Used Book Store...especially if those stores happen to be Meltdown Comics and The Iliad Bookstore.

Rule #2: *sigh* Rule #1 can be broken and justified if you're a book addict.

We (the husband, child and I) walk in Meltdown. I stroll up and down the aisles confidant in that I will not find anything on this trip (solely for the reason that I should not be spending any money). Up and down, up and down I walk. I walk over to the husband who is standing by the new "alternative" or "independent" releases flipping through books. Oh crap. I see it. Oh no. I know it's going to be expensive and it's going to jump in my hand. Oh no. I flip through it. The husband walks off in search of other things...Not only does this gem have a "mini book" inside of it (That focuses on the artists in the BIG 300+ book) but it *gasp* has pictures of artists' studios...It's like those little Paumes books that I go nuts over but BIGGER and with a hardcover. I need it. I want it. I search through the shrink wrapped copies (there was one open copy) and find "the perfect one". The Age of Feminine Drawing in my hands, I make my way to the cash register and fork over $43. and some change. The husband upon seeing me just shakes his head.

So, we then head on over to The Iliad Bookshop. For some reason we always get lost on our way over there. Zola, the one eyed pirate kitty (aaaargh) greets us at the door. Tristan gets freaked out by the cat so he runs off and hides behind a copy of Calvin & Hobbes. I walk around the store looking for some fiction books that seem to be eluding me lately (like used copies of Jean Shepherd books, a couple of Kurt Vonnegut books, etc...) and non fiction (Howard Zinn, where are you? Everyone must have good taste or somethin' 'cause I can't find these books used, damnit!). No luck. So, while the husband manages to find not one, but 4 books that have been "high" on his "search list" for some time, I slunk over to the Bargain section wondering how much this "cheap night out" will cost us ($100 later. Oh well, the phone bill can wait to be paid). What do I find? For The Love of Old just sitting there! Nah. Someone must've misplaced this. I open it up to where the price is and see $10. $10!?!?!? OMG. Cheapest I've ever seen it was $20 once and I passed it by in favor of two other books that I "needed" at the time (well, I did). This time it was going home with me.

So see, folks, when you're broke and your car is on the fritz do not, under any circumstances, give in to the husband when he says "Let's go out." Ignore him and stay in your jim jams, damnit.

Actually, it was well worth the trek out. I LOVE my books. Stay tuned to this site as I may be listing books that I need to find new homes for. Anyone looking for any Nick Bantock books (I think I have almost all of them) to trade or buy?