Core Values? Service? Shocking!

Steve and I have been talking about visiting Scotland (excellent birdwatching, plus, it's gorgeous), and now we have a clear-cut reason to do so. According to Scotland Magazine, The Edinburgh Bookshop is a "new bookshop for the capital," and has opened on the south side of the city. Best, its owners hope to "continue the legacy of the original Edinburgh Bookshop, which operated on George Street for many years, by bringing back the core values of customer service, wide-ranging stock selection, and well-informed staff."

Core values...God love them.

Mini Tech Survey

I reversed my walk today, ending near the grade school which normally marks the beginning of my trek. Six moms were parked alongside the curb in their minivans and SUVs, waiting for their children. Four moms were texting; one was talking on her phone; and one was flipping through a "hard" calendar. (What do we call the old-fashioned paper calendars these days?)

The youngest "waiter," a teenaged boy, was sitting in a truck, flipping through a magazine. How is that for a role reversal? I wasn't sure what to make of it, but I liked it. Someone was actually giving his thumbs a rest and reading -- there's hope for writers yet.

Seals on Santa Rosa

Steve took these elephant seal pics two days ago on Santa Rosa Island (part of the Channel Islands), off the coast of Santa Barbara.

The Beatles!

If it's possible to die from happiness, I've got one foot in the grave. Four days ago, I ordered The Beatles Stereo Box Set from amazon.com, and it arrived in today's mail. After opening the box, I sat, nearly paralyzed, as I tried to decide which of the 14 albums I would open first. I chose With the Beatles (which must be the UK version; here in the US, it's called Meet the Beatles), as this was the first Beatles album I owned.

I remember well the evening my mom bought it for me: we were flipping through the LPs at Jack's House of Music, when "All My Loving" began playing in the background. I gasped, looked at Mom, and begged her to buy the album for me. She balked, as the cheaper "mono" versions of the record were sold out, and $2.99 for the stereo version seemed an outrageous price to pay. But pay it she did, demonstrating there is no greater love for a child than a Mom's willingness to splurge on the Beatles.

To this day, the Fab Four remain my all-time favorite band. So much so, I've lined my office wall with six of their album covers (I've got 35 posted, in all). Rubber Soul is, and always will be, number one.

Alex & Me

Reading ALEX & ME by Irene Pepperberg. I have a fondness for African Greys, and recollect watching a PBS special maybe ten or so years ago, where an African Grey in the UK "spoke" with an English accent. If his owner was sipping a cup of tea, the bird would bob his head and say, "Cop of tay?," which really cracked me up. Now, when I acquire a hankering for a cup of Constant Comment, I ask Steve if he wants one, too, using this birdy accent.

Too Much Happiness

Nice interview with Alice Munro in today's WSJ. Here is the gist: She's 78, lives in a small town in Ontario, Canada, and is undergoing treatment for cancer. Her new short-story collection, "Too Much Happiness," is out this week, and includes stories that frame the darker side of life -- murder, home invasion, disfigurement and mutilation. The first story (unnamed in the article) is apparently so harrowing, she can't bring herself to reread it. Which means I'll add the book to my Christmas list and read that story first. Read an excerpt from "Too Much Happiness" here. (Photo by WSJ.)