Coming Home
Sorry I haven’t blogged in a while. I’m still recovering from the trip back home. Whenever I travel by myself, it’s always very interesting trying to manage my luggage. The irony of traveling with a bad back—you can’t travel light. Too many “peripherals” are necessary for maximum functionality. Or maybe I’m just a girl who likes to have wardrobe choices…
So to finish my library story. On Friday, I did in fact commandeer the microfilm reader, after stalking the front door of the library (remember the old Mervyn’s commercial—Open, Open, Open!) with another fellow researcher a few minutes before opening time. He was there early, too. I had a sense he might want the microfilm reader, so I moved closer to the door. He eyed me. I appeared nonchalant. The door opened and I made my move. I shoved my list of microfilm reels in the library workers’ hands as I listened to the other guy ask her to show him how to search the newspaper microfilm. She looked at me knowingly. My expression must have spoken volumes. She said she was going to let me go first since I’d been there yesterday trying to get on the machine. Yes! Sweet victory!
On another note, I was amazed to discover that absinthe was being served at a restaurant in San Diego within walking distance of my hotel. Since absinthe plays a key role in my novel, I decided to do some research on my own. I looked rather silly sitting by myself with a generous 3-oz pour of approximately 90-proof liquor (after diluted), taking pictures of the pretty colors… Needless to say, I didn’t finish it, as I needed to walk back to the hotel without falling down. But now I can say I know what it tastes like.
If you haven’t figured it out by now, I take my research very seriously.
But it is good to be back in Texas, where people open doors for you unbidden, and people say hello with a smile, just because they’re friendly. As much as I hate the fire ants and big squishy bugs and quirky weather and the occasional softball-size hail that comes with living in Tornado Alley, there really is no place like home.
