Before I begin this blog post (gee I've said that a lot) let me first say (I've mentioned those words ample amounts also) that today is Benjamin Franklin's birthday. I am reading a biography about the guy. He did a lot of great things, and was a printer, scientist, advocate of the colonial cause of getting away from Britain, and made treaty negotiations with the French that helped us win the Revolutionary War. He organized the treaty of Paris also. He signed the Declaration of Independence, and also the Constitution. He was a really smart business guy and great diplomat, and a distinguished scientist. He made the Franklin Stove and many experiments in temperature and other things. Ben Franklin was a great scientist, writer, and politician. And today is his birthday.
"Does Mom know you're with me?" she said as we passed into the Canton Street area. "No," was my answer, "but I'll call her right now." I did, and told her. We were a safe distance away from Rebecca; she couldn't join us now. Haha, my scheme had worked so far. As we drove away, she asked if I had the card, (I said yeah) and we talked about how we were looking forward to it and what kind of book I might want. I talked about Middle School Monologues (Henry got one for his b-day), the classics, and how I wanted to read Alice and Wonderland. I also talked about the newly given Redwall books. She suggested I get a book about blogging, perhaps because I am pretty bad at it. Don't pretend I'm not, I know I am one of the worst. Just hand me the insults. Anyway, we talked and had a good time as we drove over to the one I had been at two days before. I finished the good biscuit Lauren had gotten me before we went in. We walked in, and I told her it was National Bird Day. I don't know where I get all these info, at BrainPop, most of it. Anyway, I loved being in old Barnes again. Noble is really not nice. Kind of sassy. Barnes is an easy going, good book lover. Kind of quiet and soft spoken. Not Noble though. She (yes she is a she) is a loud, irritable, lady, who kind of pushes Barnes around. I feel bad for him. Well, it's just one of those things.
As I had exhausted the right half of the store the other day, I digested the left that day. At first we checked around at the near back some books on a spinning stand, all the classics. Half of them I didn't know, with a few exceptions. Alice was on there. The whole reason I wanted to read it was because my friend Henry is in the play, and it looked interesting, you know. I looked around more, but then Lauren and I went up further to all of the business and Internet and computer stuff, all the informational books, in other words, the boring ones. We were looking for that blog book. Lauren showed me a thick (and when I mean thick I mean like encyclopedia size or bigger) blue and yellow book, one Vincent had to read as a part of his grade to do stuff with I.T.T. It was a Cisco one. That's crazy to study. I don't think I could take that. But we didn't find anything, and sadly I forgot about the monologues. Silly me. Oh well. It's not like the Barnes and Noble is going to die any time soon. At least, I hope it won't. That would be bad. Because they are one of the only huge good bookstore branches still around (because Borders died) that offers high tech as well as traditional editions, as well as having great prices! (I know I sound like a salesman).
In the front I found a cream and green Alice and Wonderland that had pictures and elaborate writing, with Alice and the white rabbit on the front. We got it for a good price, only 8 dollars. I wanted to get this. We talked and had a funny and good time, talking and making memories. I had a good time with Lauren. In the kids spot, I told of my hate with middle school literature and saw a Redwall book, a modern one called Martin the Warrior. In the colorful kids section I also found "Around the World in Eighty Days" by Jules Verne, and others such as the Journey to the center of the Earth and some others I had read, Huckleberry Finn and Treasure Island. I planned to get those two copies also. Not the Center of the Earth one, but The Redwall book. I had already read "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" on the trip, and I loved Jules Verne's style of taking a theme of the earth, an undiscovered place, and using a scientist or professor and making a book. Great author that guy is. I had all I wanted, but my card still had 6 dollars. I looked over in the right side, through some things, with no luck really. As I found a bio of Albert Einstein that was small and picture filled, and we got in line, I saw a guy who we had walked from school to home with (because he had a house relatively close to ours) named John, who always had a stroller for his kid. I said hello as we talked a little, about the regular stuff I talk to people about when we've been in Roswell, where we've been, we're were gonna go, and what we've been doing. So boring to repeat it. Oh, it's a chore.
I actually thought about the first novel of Sherlock Holmes, a Study In Scarlet, and wanted to get and read it before I read the other ones, but could not find it in the mystery section. I would have easily and quickly replaced it for the Einstein one. We went to a small square booth called Customer Service. We had to wait a while with old women and young guys in front of us alike, and a shortening of employees working there. Finally, as we stood by legos, we were accepted! A lady looked through her computer search after I asked if they had the book, and she said she had never read it, or seen it. "The only thing we have is a graphic novel edition, and we could mail it to you..." I said it was fine, not worth the trouble. So I did not have the book within my reach. Alas. Oh well, I mean that's life, believe it or not. No big deal. You see this, my good friends, is how you don't worry about stuff and ponder over them. Oh well, that's life, no big deal, ya da ya da. And that's what I do sometimes. Anyway, we got back in the line, after going through the annoying sci-fi section. I told Lauren about me telling that one kid it was National Science Fiction Day a few days ago. Now there's a subject too focused on too, Science Fiction. But it's a cool subject too. In line, as I thanked Lauren for the presents and for coming with me and for the fun time, an old man (not that old though) said, "I wish my grandkids would thank me for what I give them." Laughs and smiles. I hope he didn't think Lauren was my grandmother. :(
We got in the car, and were driving home on with car dealerships, we saw a white building with big parking lot and red letters on the signs, saying it was the Humane Society Center. I can't explain and don't know why, but I got goosebumps as we came in, and Lauren talked about how she wanted to volunteer to help out animals, and stuff like that. I had a feeling she shouldn't, as we saw nice dog runs and a fitness center, and visitor's center. She wanted to though. And I bet she'll be fine. It was just something...
Lauren couldn't come inside when we drove into the house, because she had stuff to do. So I went inside and explained and showed off my books, to Rebecca and Mom. Mom told me that I was to get a haircut by Shirley later, as we left in the suburban to take Julie's glasses back that she had gotten for Christmas, to get another one. We stopped at a tire place where Mom needed to pump up air into her tires, and add air in. We left our car with the keys in and walked into a small waiting room with a counter and vending machine, plus a back room and chairs. Mom told me to get her purse and I did as we told the guy what we wanted. They then took the car and did it really quick. I played a game on her phone, having no phone. After we aired up on air and paid for it, we drove over to Roswell Eye Glasses place, and parked in there. In the glasses part with all the glasses showed off and the tables there with the people waiting on them, we met Julie sitting down and trying on different pairs. I went into the waiting room. Going up to the counter, I asked for Nancy. The lady went back and asked for her. I wanted to see her before I left, even though I had seen her for a short time earlier. She came on and said she had no appointment going on, and for a while we talked about the trip and stuff I have written and will write. I was sorry I didn't have a copy of "A Day He Didn't Expect", but said I would email her it. I did just now actually.
After saying hello to Mom she went back in her office. I listened to a nice lady as Julie decided what glasses to get, being pretty picky. I don't see the fun advantage of having a job at a glasses store, but I guess some people like it. Julie, Rebecca and I parted ways as Julie went to work and Mom and I went home. Mom took the tree down in the hours before the haircutting, and Dad came back from my Aunt Denise's surgery she had. Johnny Forester, the guy who came over on Caleb Smith day and the day we went to the lake, came over in his truck to fix some things around the house, a leak in the little bedroom, a dripping from the tub in my bathroom, stuff like that. He's a handyman.
We watched T.V. and did other things as he worked. Nothing interesting to write about. Before Dad and I left to go to Shirley's though, Johnny kindly wanted to pray for us, as we are going on this next adventurous and scary second leg of the trip. He's such a nice guy. Around the table in the office, in the hall area Johnny made a good, honest prayer that was both sincere and simple, to help us on the trip and be safe and not go through any bad turns, and also for some people at home. He's a great guy. Tears came as we had an emotional farewell on the back porch. Thanks Johnny, for all that you do.
We watched T.V. and did other things as he worked. Nothing interesting to write about. Before Dad and I left to go to Shirley's though, Johnny kindly wanted to pray for us, as we are going on this next adventurous and scary second leg of the trip. He's such a nice guy. Around the table in the office, in the hall area Johnny made a good, honest prayer that was both sincere and simple, to help us on the trip and be safe and not go through any bad turns, and also for some people at home. He's a great guy. Tears came as we had an emotional farewell on the back porch. Thanks Johnny, for all that you do.
Dad was talking to Johnny, as we were about to be late for the haircutting. Mom took me in the suburban, and dropped me off, Dad coming later. As I walked in I saw Shirley, blonde haired and life fifty, with hair coming down, wrinkles, and a pure country accent. You can't understand some of her words. She is great. I've had her for a long time, and she is so sweet and nice. I said hello to her after six months, and had a good talk to her. I didn't want to have a haircut until Dad arrived, but managed to get my hair wet while Shirley cut another lady's hair. A nice guy named Alex I think who was a young adult took me back to the washer thing, and I leaned back and got my hair wet in the thing. He was nice and good to talk to. I learned he wanted to be in the military but couldn't because of his asthma, so wants to be a detective or something. I told him about News Team and he said he did something really cool at RHS, with cameras and stuff, and I should really do it when I get there. I didn't really mention the R.V. trip, as I do not like to. The subject is just not fun to talk about anymore, well, I mean, it is, but, it get's annoying. But if any of you readers want to come over and talk about it with me that's great and dandy, it's just I want to hear what you've been doing too, it's a lot more fun to hear and learn than to repeat and tell. It just is.
That guy was nice, we had a lot of good conversations. After my hair was hot and wet and scrubbed, Dad arrived. I got into Shirley's room and told her only a small trim was to be done, and we talked about the trip and many other things, Left Behind and the Dealership were among the conversations. Dad came in at that time, and sat in a spinny chair right by us and talked. Shirley was excited to learn about the trip. She's a very kind lady. I think she's been my only long term haircutter I've gone to more than trice besides my sister Lauren. Haha, funny, I saw two haircutters in one day but only got cut by one. I got a nice trim that I enjoyed, and after I had my cut Dad got washed as I talked to Shirley's adult daughter Pam, who is a robust woman with hair in a bun, and funny jersey accent, so opposite that of her mother. As we talked, Pam told me about a lot of cool places in California, the Redwood forest, Hollywood, the coast, and a lot of beaches. I couldn't remember all of them. Then Dad got a little trim also. We paid and said goodbye, as I gave her the blog and she gave me her email. The sad thing is, when I went home and emailed her as to confirm that that was her email, it said (Yahoo did) that there was no registered client with that address. I tried again. Same results. So if you are looking at this, Shirley, please give the email address to me again, on the comment page. Thanks.
For the rest of the day we relaxed, but sadly it's so far back I can't really remember. Sorry folks. But I can't. Goodbye, and goodnight.
"A penny saved is a penny earned," - Benjamin Franklin,
Andrew.
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