The Wee Democracy

i visit the library

based mainly upon the frequent browbeatings and guilt trips regarding my lackadaisical attitude toward real work, i made a short little venture to the local branch of my city's public library system yesterday. now, one might think that a library consists of a place filled to the rafters with lovely, lovely books. but oh, no, not this dump. this place, i shit you not, has about the same amount of books that my elementary school library did.

now, some might also say, why, josh? why go to the library in your halfassed quest to find reasonably gainful employment? well, i think it goes back to my habit of knowing the basic theories behind doing something, without having any practical skill, whatsoever. i mean, look at my dating history. if i could stop tripping over myself and sweating profusely, i'd be one smooth operator.

anywho, back to library. i go, and immediately, i'm drawn away from the measly shelf regarding the economy and job hunting to the adjacent wall filled with what the french call, literature. i mean, i'd rather read fun books than boring books. so? who wouldn't? i browse through the section for a few minutes, laughing then scowling at the fact that they've got like 15 copies of the old man and the sea, but not one of a moveable feast, or the snows of kilamanjaro. i try to find the divine comedy, the once idle interest in reading it, now seeming immense and irresistable. i find it, and hold onto it.

not being able to find the one book my mom demands that i read, i attempt to look it up on the computer, but evidently, you need a library card to do that. i go to the counter to get one, a slight sensation of fear, taversing up my spine, fearing the discovery of an outrageous fine i incurred when i made it on the the dallas library system's shit list some...15 years ago, when i did some research on volcanoes. or is it volcanos? who knows.

but, fortunately, i am a mystery to them, and i get my card, no questions asked. i also register to vote. upon being carded, i go back to the other librarian, who told me to get the card in the first place, and she tells me where i can find this book. she then, in a hushed tone, asks me if i'm familiar with the dewey decimal system. i laugh, and she laughs and says, well, some people here aren't. i thank her, find my book, and walk back through the lit section once again, to satiate my desires.

so i ended up with three books on job finding tactics, and the divine comedy. guess which one i really first?

oh yeah, did you know you can register to vote at the library? i didn't! it rocks.



PS. josh ritter is playing the gypsy tea room on 4/12 -- does anyone want to go with me? tix are 8 bones.

feeling: like a man with a new library card......easy money, baby
thinking of: buying burberry of london cologne.
song of the day: lawrence, ks - josh ritter
some prophecies are self fulfilling...i've had to work for all of mine