Fun bits of weirdness...

So my parents put a Utilikilt under the tree for me (appalling picture...not the Utilikilt's fault). I may never wear pants again. I've wanted one for several years, but now it is all mine. Appears to be very well made and way too comfortable for words. What fun.

My wonderful wife replaced by all-but- completely destroyed electric razor  with a new Braun. It is very cool and sleek and long overdue (my last Braun electric razor is about 11  years old or so and died about a month or so ago). I hope it lasts as long...paying for razors make me itchy...though not as much as facial hair...

My sister and BiL gave me a green laser pen. Red laser is easy...and common...GREEN on the other hand is very cool. Better yet, it is bright enough that you can see the beam in the air in the dark (great for star gazing). Now I have to do more presentations so I have an excuse to use my cool green beam....or just play with the cat...

Many books changed hands, the kids are Legoing their brains out. The boys both got wooden model war engines (Thing One a trebuchet and Thing Two a catapult). Mom and dad gave Suz a Lippi Selk wearable sleeping bag (in red)...she is WAYYYY too cute in it...and toasty warm.

The afternoon has been lazy fun, hardware setup (mom got an iPhone and dad a MacBookPro). Dinner is started (traditional English xmas...roast beef, yorkshire pudding, etc). Movies to follow. Just a very nice day. I hope yours has been as amusing...

Heavy snow and good company

So we came through the first real snowstorm of the year with flying colors. Stayed in, watched the snow fly and wind blow and played games with the family. The boys received some fun new things for their birthdays (celebrated on the 20th)...a very fun board game "Apples to Apples" and the Guitar Heros Aerosmith Edition (complete with TWO guitars ("guitar" in the loosest sense of the word)). Both have been great fun.

It should be no surprise that a game that plays with words and meaning would work well with this crowd. Much more surprising is Guitar Hero. I, and probably most of the rest of the family, assumed this would be a "let the boys play it and hope we can figure out things to do in other parts of the house" sort of thing. It has turned out to be pretty fun...both to play and to watch (or at least have it on in the room while you talk about other things...). Heavy on Aerosmith (as should be expected by the name), there is a nice smattering of other classics and...even better...some less mainstream material. Watching Thing One "play" the New York Dolls' "Personality Crisis" was extremely amusing...having him be shocked that I knew all the words was nice. I am very cool in his eyes at the moment...it will not be so in the not so distant future so I like to revel in these moments when they present themselves...

We spent a few hours shoveling. Tomorrow will be busy with last minute wrapping and errands and a party in the evening. Great fun had by all...

little moments in long-distance fatherhood...

I am strangely fond of moments like this...Thing One just called and said, "Dad, I need your help. I need two factors for 39. I have 1x39, but what is the other?" I offered, "Well, think about it. What times what gets you 39". "Oh," says T1, "3x13. Thanks. I love you." "I love you, too." say I. And he hangs up.

Little things can be so nice...

Portland Book Fair 2008...a new beginning

The Maine Antiquarian Booksellers Association (MABA) and Maine Historical Society (MHS) held their annual antiquarian book and paper sale [disclaimer, due to circumstances beyond my control, I am the current president of MABA]. This year was a "new" fair year...which is to say that our old promoter had decided not to do the show any longer so we had a new promoter, new location and new date...so even though it was the 26th annual fair, it was effectively a "brand new" show.

We ended up with 30ish dealers. The feedback, from attendees and other dealers, was very positive. The promoter (Flamingo) said she have very few dealers voice complaints... pleasing as we are a kvetchy bunch. We are planning to do a Saturday set-up next year (to my PROFOUND relief)...there were at least 5 dealers I know of who did not do the show because they "need" the extra day to make the show work (this, largely, to be able to shop it effectively). We will be running power next year so that people in the big room can run lighting if they choose (we may run lights, ourselves...we shall see). We had one dealer drop out en route, as they passed a lot of rain induced accidents and decided life was too short . I hope they will come back next year...we'll do what we can to see that we have better weather.

The weather was a challenge. I don't fret too much about rain...I just decided to use my Pelican's to bring my books (have I mentioned they are waterproof ). I *do* fret about wet people dripping on my books. Luckily, it all but stopped by the time the show opened and there was not real problem. That said, I think the weather and did keep a reasonable number of people at home, which is unfortunate.

We have one more room we can us, so we could add about 15 more dealers or so...given the number who have indicated they will return and those who have said that, while they could not do the show this year, they will be here next year, we could actually fill the venue next year. It would be really nice to be able to say we have a waiting list. Hope springs eternal. Thank you to all the dealers who made the trip. Doubly so, thanks to all the customers who braved the rain and...er...overcast to come and look and buy.

We had a reasonably good show. We sold enough to make it a black event on its face. We bought some interesting things...notably the dedication copy of a French volume on the devil. We had a client bring in some neat new material. We saw good friends (hi Cheryl). It was a nice day.

Thank you also to those who were in town on Saturday and stopped by Rabelais Books for the wee party that was hosted by Don and Samantha (of Rabelais fame) and Suzanne and me. We had some good food and drink (which should be of no surprise to any who know Don and Sam) and the shop is always great fun to visit (there is currently a photo collection hung (exceptionally printed using a very old process) of the *36* Dunkin' Donuts within 3 miles of the photographer's home). It would appear that this will be an annual event and we hope to see it grow a bit next year with more folks in town for the earlier set-up.

Images at the side show a before and after of our booth space and a shot of the main hall. The last is of my assistant, who was given a choice of coat and tie or skelaton outfit and opted for the *clearly* cooler option. I wish it came big enough for dad.

Belated boat update...

The boys and I (and their Granddaddy) spent several hours on the boats early this summer. We will repaint them in the fall, but first we oiled the inside of both with great care.

The larger is a 14 foot Whitehall (named after the street in NY where they were first made and famed for their speed in the harbor (the first boat to meet a merchant ship coming in got dibs on the best cargo, speed was important)). She has beautiful 9 foot oars and she just flys (all the more so when there are two oarmen). This whitehall was retrofitted to take a small sail.

The other is a wee pram. A dear friend asked a local boatbuilder to make him the smallest boat possible that could safely hold three adults and gear. This 6 foot pram was the result. He has moved away for a bit and left it on indefinite loan, to be cared for and used vigorously by Thing 1 and Thing 2. Thing 2 is learning to row this summer...additional photos are likely to follow.

Summer power reading...

As I mentioned earlier, Thing One blew by the 10 book goal this summer and was rewarded with a $10 savings account (hypothetically, matched by various others). However, it was not just any ten books he knocked down. Starting a day or so after mid-June, T1 started the Harry Potter series and finished the last one yesterday.

He was very funny about it. He decided he wanted to read the Bloomsbury special editions to start with...largely because he liked the bound in bookmarks. At book four, he had to choose the trade Bloomsbury or Scholastic edition and opted for the Brit on the grounds that he liked the British expressions, etc. The last three he had to switch to the Scholastics, but found that they did less substitution of "gits" and the like.

His best exclamation came at the end of Book 6 when, at about 9:30 at night or so (he was allowed to read late some nights), "DUMBLEDORE IS DEAD?!?!?" Book 7 added several, "Dobby is dead?!?", "Lupin is dead?!?", "Fred is dead?!?...What is wrong with this book?!?" Other than characters he liked dying, he loved the series and wants to reread it starting now. I have suggested he let it sink in and read it again in a year or so.

I just have to say that I am very proud that my 10 year-old read 4224 pages in just this series...not counting his other reading this summer (two other short sets and several stand-alone books). I could not be more proud.

Getting paid to read...

My older son just opened a savings account at TD Banknorth. He did it with the $10 that the the bank gave him for reading 10 books this summer. Sadly, though the program started in June, the nice young account manager told us that he was the first customer she had worked with as part of the program. That said, they are expecting a surge in the coming weeks...the program ends at the end of September. I know my younger is on Number Seven of his ten.

To learn more about the program, see this. I think it is great that the TD Banknorth is willing to support this program. For my boys, it is definitely just a bonus, as they would read regardless...but anything that encourages kids to read is a good thing.

Why grandfathers are cooler than dads...

So Granddaddy had a surprise for the boys when they arrived. He had, following an old Popular Mechanics for Boys instructions, built them a periscope.

This included bringing the wooden tube to the local glass shop and having them cut mirrors perfect for the tube...needless to say the guys in the shop thought it was the coolest thing *they* had seen and I wager their kids will be getting their own soon.

The boys have been looking around corners and over things. The pictures show the front and back of the periscope, the instructions and an orchid as seen through it.

They also brought it to the Parade today and had great fun with it as well.

Dad has also made the boys an "ice scooter" from plans from the turn of the [last] century...three bladed scooter and a specially strap on "pad" that had screws through it in a slight backward angle to make kicking more efficient.

Many years ago, dad I built a Snowball Thrower from a late 1800s "projects for boys" book...it was very cool...basically a small catapult for flinging snowballs (or rocks)...

Day one in Boston (MARIAB)...

Wow! Day one was just great. The promoter has clearly done a great job with this show. There was a *big* crowd waiting to get in and it was pretty steady all day long. It was 330 in the afternoon before I remembered to have lunch.

Joyce from Brattle Books (great books, bags, peanut M&Ms and just generally nice to share a booth border with) watched the booth while Eli and I went off for a quick and good lunch right on the pier (and, hypothetically, a cherry Slurpee on the way back to the show).

I saw a fair number of old friends...other dealers and "real humans" and, as mentioned, we really did have pretty steady traffic in the booth all day long. There are not many shows you can say that about and it was a nice treat today. With luck, tomorrow will be more of the same.

We sold some good books today...shockingly, only one sale was to a dealer. It is a really nice day when you have a good number of sales and the vast majority are to real humans. We've also had a lot of people say really nice things to us today, about the booth, books and boy *laughing*.

Images show the booth before set-up. There are pretty nice "right view" and "left view" of the booth. My assistant...he of "I really don't like these long ties, could you get me a bow tie, they're cool" was wonderful pretty much all day...going between playing with some actions figures/game boy and offering cards and book advice to customers. Also, Eli is-clearly-at least as excited about my recent ABAA membership as I am. He proudly tells people about this (in the booth, at restaurants, checking into the hotel, etc) and is quite convinced that he is a "half member" due to his status as Thing Two (perhaps his brother has the other half).

The last shot is strait downt he middle of the aisle at about 2pm....pretty typical of the day.

Tomorrow starts at 10am...I am the seminar speaker for the 2ish pm seminar. It should be fun, though I hate having to leave my booth abandoned (though watched) during a chunk of the "wind down" before show end. Oh well. Then break down starting at 5pm and home. Most likely no update until Monday. We shall see.

Somewhere there is a pod with my real son in it...

Just a quick note in the midst of the chaos of preparing for Boston this weekend. Suzanne, Eli (my 6 year old) and I had dinner tonight with Priscilla Juvelis and Dan Posnansky. It was our usual "dinner before the monthly Baxter Society meeting." Eli was ridiculously well behaved. As an example, he *waited* for a pause in the coversation (difficult with this group) and asked, "Mrs. Juvelis, how was your fair in New York?"

Clearly he has heard too many dealers having too many of the same conversations *laughing*. He is the first to say that he considers himself a book dealer and this was clearly a question one dealer should ask another. Needless to say, Priscilla was pretty smitten.

Eli then attended the Baxter meeting, in which Don Lindgren spoke on "The Education of a Book Dealer". My son...my six year old...sat through the evening (on the order of a hour and a half, announcements and presentation) AND during the Q&A session asked Don "What is your favorite book in your shop?".

Clearly, there is a pod somewhere with my son in it and I will have to do something, eventually, with this alien. Then again, perhaps the universe regain balance by him running around the Boston show this weekend naked and swinging a machete. Until then, I will just revel in the bizarre goodness that is Thing II.

Final day, pack up and off...

Today was the last day of the fair. It was just a great weekend all around. Some great sales, some great buying and just a ton of people through the door. Another dealer told me that that he counted bodies through the door and was north of 160 on the Friday opening before there was a "break" in the flow.

Aidan was good helper at the show and had a good time. Even managed to find a very cool book on how printing presses work that he picked up as a reward of exemplary work. Pictures of the booth and boy will follow (when I get a cable).

The promoters were great. The venue is outstanding (was originally a big band hall). I was watching the Discovery Channel in the hotel room and was rather stunned to see a 30 second spot for the book fair. Pipe and drape on the booths, two nice pole lights in every booth. Did I mention that booths $450. Why can't other promoters pull off events like this?

We picked up the rental car and have made it across the state to my in-laws. Tomorrow will likely be a balance of cataloguing some books in preparation of a meeting on Tuesday and pool time. I hope others had as fun a weekend.

Safely in FL...explosive ideas on the page nearly get me in trouble...

We are safely ensconced in our hotel in St. Petersburg, FL. We arrived at 2:20, my eldest spawn arrived from Miami at 3:25. It was almost as if we planned it.

Passing through security at Logan, one of my Pelican carry-ons was "pulled" for extra inspection (apparently the vague, blurry, completely not metallic nature of the case was somehow concerning. So I open it at the "special counter" and the guy swabs the open edges and across the top of the bubble bags that were at the top of the case and put it in his special, very expensive, sensor machine. The result:

My box of books tested positive for "Explosives". I wish I was making this up. The TSA guys were very cool (my first inspector had to call over the shift head after the "positive" explosive test. They asked me nicely what was in there and that they would need to inspect the contents. As they pulled the 1790 Stockdale edition of Crusoe out, I suggest that the cannon fire entombed therein might be responsible...and they both laughed. We had a rather fun discussion regarding the explosive power of ideas and that books might be more dangerous than most other things........but not for air travel and they decided to allow me get on with my day.

Oh, and no cavity search. All things considered, a nice day of travel (and how often can you say that these days. Dinner at Johnny Rockets per eldest's pleading request.

We are supposed to have two ice/sleet/snow storms at home while we are down here. I am going now....the pool beckons.

Greenwich Village book fair - Adventure Day One

What a horrible and great day...and how often can you say something like that. We drove down on Thursday to Tarry Town to our current favorite "just out of the city with free parking and a pool" hotel (the Marriot). The drive down was fast and uneventful. I have my youngest assistant with me (pictures tomorrow). My son (6) Eli was great fun on the drive and has a strange obsession with hotels. He has asked several times if we can live here forever.

The drive into the city was exciting...in that "oh my god, I hope we don't die". I deliberately waited a bit to start in, in hopes that they would clear all the rush-hour accidents off the road. This turned out to be the right call. It was a long, slow drive (about an hour and fifteen minutes to do what should have been about an half hour drive). We passed several accidents and watched an SUV do a very exciting series of 360s down the middle of 287 (but did not hit anything). It was one of those "I know I can drive in this safely, but all these other whack-jobs are seriously unknown quantities". In the end, we made it in safe and sound, found the school in the Village where the show is being held.

I managed to hurt my lower back the day before I left for the fair and had promised my wife that I would, for the first time, hire porters to carry in my boxes. My shipping boxes came back from San Francisco and I did not repack things...I just threw them into the van with some additional material and hit the road. The net result of this is that I had 8 boxes in the 65 to 75 pound range plus my other stuff. They do not have "porters" at this fair, they have "stevedores" (mind you, a stevedore is "a laborer who loads and unloads vessels in a port"...but that is hair splitting.). That is, you hear "stevedore" and you picture big muscular guys who wrestle shipping crates for a living.

The first two pictures are the stevedores I was assigned. As you can see, burly dock workers able to move anything not bolted down *laughing*. They were wonderful. I convinced them to take a handle each (yet another reason Pelican cases rock) and they handled everything with aplomb. I did not let them schlep the plate display case...I just couldn't. I recommended them resoundingly to all others as people traipsed in...I hope they had a good day (this fair is, as I understand it, a fund-raiser for the school).

I managed to get in around 11:30am or so...the show started this evening at 6pm...that is, I had about 6.5 hours to set up. Anyone who knows me, knows I can set up a booth in no less than 5 hours...don't ask, I'm just that pathetic. That is, generally, with a real assistant (wife, mother or some other long-suffering supporter). Here I had my six year old son, Eli. In the end, not only was I able to get set up...and reasonably well, at that...but we were able to get it done *with* time to go down and enjoy the wonderful dinner the school provided for attendees (great salads, hummus, sushi, chicken and drinks). Ok, admittedly, only just barely...but it really was "ready" by 6pm.

Eli was reasonably helpful and especially helpful re all things I loath doing (crawling about on the floor running extension cords and the like). Once the fair started, he sat in our chair and played game boy and responded in very cute fashion to the myriad of people who asked him questions. I am hoping he tries to hand-sell his book tomorrow (he has an inscribed copy of "The Book that Jack Wrote" by Jon Scieszka and illustrated by Dan Adel). He helped research and write the description and is pretty excited about it. He was truly on his very best behavior. He might have received a Sky-High Sunday when he got back to the hotel.

Lots of people, good stickiness and some good sales. A great start to a show. However, a wildly long day and I need sleep. Show starts tomorrow at 12 noon and runs to 5pm. Come and visit...better yet, buy a book.

Books are packed and I'm more or less ready to go...

Well, one set of books are off to SF and another is packed in the van ready for the trip tomorrow. My six year old son is joining me to assist. He asked me the other day if he was going to be wearing a tie at the book fair and I said, "Probably"...to which he replied, "then could it be a bow-tie, they are so cool!" I will be hunting for a bow tie (that will fit a six year old) over the next day or so...pictures will follow.

I've posted .pdf catalogues on the site if you would like to take a look at what I will have at both shows (very different catalogues). I recommend right-clicking and downloading them as they are about 4megs each. Enjoy.