Gift Card Holder Ornament (Photo credit: ecokarenlee)
I told everyone in my family that if I did not get a gift card from Chapters for Christmas that there would be trouble. My husband took me seriously. Apparently he did not want trouble. On the Christmas tree was a pretty little card, and inside was the sacred gift card. I love going to Chapters (or any bookstore if truth be known). In fact I once owned a bookstore, but an unexpected but happy pregnancy, a second premature child (who is now a healthy 6’1″ college student), and a number of other factors led to its closure–but the point here is that I love books–buying them, borrowing them from the library, and most of all, reading them. I did not particularly care for selling them though.
Anyway, we got up early this Boxing Day morning and made our way into the city to the nearest Chapters, about 30 miles away. There was a winter storm brewing and threatening to blow its way here by noon, so I wanted to be back in my warm and cozy home before it got here. Target time to take off was 8:30; we made it out of the house by 9:00 a.m. Not bad in my books.
I used my card well and purchased “The End of Your Life Book Club” by Will Schwalbe and “The Mindful Writer” by Dinty W. Moore who promises that it is filled with “noble truths of the writing life.” Because they were hardcovers and 30% off, I shared the rest of my card with my family, buying a book about vintage guitars for my oldest son, and a motorcycle mag for my husband.
We got home just as the storm was starting–the wind is blowing right now and the snow is coming down a shade past gently and we are going to get four to eight inches. I know, I know this is Canada, so I guess we are getting between 8 and 10 centimetres–but I am still old school.
Hoping you all are having a relaxing day after all the excitement of Christmas, and are warm and cozy if it is cold out, and cool and happy if you live somewhere warm.
On the Homefront 
Hey, could you please let me know what the weather is doing down there and how far away you are from St. Catharine’s? My parents are supposed to be driving down for a funeral visitation tomorrow, and I am really worried that they are going to get into bad weather. They are not used to driving in blowing snow :(.
I asked my husband, and he said St Catherine’s is about four hours from us and that they are getting quite a bit of snow too–we check Accuweather and check the radar–that may help.
I myself cannot find my way out of a paperbag so I have to ask my husband who has an unerring sense of direction. Good luck. Also I do not drive if there are more than two snowflakes.
I’m with you – I hate driving in it!! We are waiting to hear from my cousin in St. Catharines, but I sure hope they don’t go if it’s bad! Thank you to your hubby for the info :).
I will – good luck!
I hope you don’t get too much snow, as it does make travelling difficult. Like you I love books and bought myself 2 books for Xmas!!
okay now, you cannot say that without naming the books–which ones did you buy?
I bought Life of Pi by Yann Martel and Salmon Rusdie’s Midnight Children. both have been made into films, so I wanted to read the books first.
I love to read the books first, and then see what they did in the movie differently–we create what we think of the stories in our minds and it is interesting to see how others translate it
Well, we’re just starting to get the snow here…we’re about 1 hour east of St. Catharines…Fortunately we can stay inside.
..I know that there are those who love an actual ‘book’ but I haven’t been reading much for the last few years and I got an e reader for Christmas. I have a goal to start reading more this year and am looking forward to doing so…Diane
reading in any way is a wonderful thing you lucky girl
I had told everyone that I didn’t need or care to receive gifts this year, but my ex who wanted to give me something decided on a Barnes and Noble’s gift card. So I too will be shopping for books.
We’ve been getting our share of your snow today too. Not sure how many inches we are expecting as I didn’t look. I figure since there’s no where I need to go why worry about it.
good way to look at it–we have milk bread and lots of leftovers so we are good
We also have snow here in NJ. Now you can curl up in a warm place and get reading. Enjoy your new books. 🙂
thank you I think I will–how much snow do you have?
We are currently in the middle of a storm here too. Cold, blustery and snowy. I have The End of Your Life Book Club on my nightstand. I have not started it yet. I checked it out from the library but I think I might buy it. I am not sure I am ready to read it yet. I have a gift card from Barnes and Noble burning a hole in my pocket :0)
Mindful Writer looks good too.. I have been eying it at the library but have yet to check it out. I look forward to your reviews(hint)
I will take that hint and run with it — I sure did not have my gift card long!
Love bookstores and love reading at home when the weather’s horrible outside. You’ve just reminded me that I need to go to the bookstore more often and pick up an actual book to read, as opposed to reading on my iPad. Sometimes you just need to get old school for a bit. 😉
old school is good sometimes
Oh I’m jealous.. I love gift cards to bookstores. Like you, I devour books….and am still jealous because I want some SNOW!!!
Enjoy your cozy home and the new books 🙂
thank you – tell me what books you enjoy
I love so many books.. Have read thousands I’m sure (sine childhood). Have read every one on the Oprah book club list, am reading some by Junot Diaz now..
Glad you got what you wanted!
I am pretty easy to please {:)
I worked in a bookstore and surprisingly, I didn’t like selling books all that much. It could have been the fact that I worked for a large corporation and all they cared about was numbers. They tracked everything–maybe even how many times I used the loo and how many squares of toilet paper I used. But I still love books–can’t live without them
Selling books takes the romance out of it, especially if you have Big Brother over your shoulder
We started getting the snow last night and it is continuing today….husband just went out to shovel the driveway, I am sure he would rather be reading a car magazine. I have nowhere to go today until 7 pm., so I too will stay inside cozy and warm and make appetizers for an open house this evening. Enjoy your new books Lou.
we got more snow than you did, but I think ours has stopped and yours will continue for awhile–stay warm and cozy!
Nothing like being cozied up at home with a good book !
so true–thanks for dropping by!
We got more snow south of the border than you did – 8 inches here in PA! No matter how much snow, on a cold winter night there is nothing more comforting than snuggling with a good book, tea (or coffee or even hot chocolate), cookies and soothing music in the background with our electric fireplace glowing! 😉
my cookies are all gone! will have to settle for rose and dark chocolate
Cookies go fast in this house too!
I am so jealous, new books and snow. Perfect day! Enjoy.
Don’t be jealous–snow is pretty to look at but not clean up after
Enjoy your new books! We’re getting a lot of snow here today as well – about 15cm. I’m going to try to embrace the season (well, embrace is a strong word…maybe try not to hate it is closer to the truth) and take Sophie out for a walk with her new red sled 🙂
have fun – a new red sled-how cool–I am finished embracing it–the novelty has worn off –ha ha — did you get your owl?
It’s warm in Australia and I’m thinking snow would be kind of nice (in small doses 😉
Enjoy your books and stay safe in that weather 😀
it would be nice to have a little of the cold stuff when it is hot
It sounds like perfect timing. I can’t think of a better thing to do during a snow storm than to read a new book.
me either – glad we are of the same mind!
I got a Foyles voucher! So guess where I’m off to today 😉
Xx
is Foyles a bookstore? if so, have fun
Oh yes, the biggest book store in London, so they say 😉
I had a great time!
Xx
I’m so happy you got your treasured gift card!! I am working part-time at Coles (which as you know is part of Chapters) for the Christmas season and LOVE it. And I bet your son’s book is a green hardcover (I was eye-balling it myself)! I’m contemplating all the ways I will use my employee discount before my employment comes to an end. Hm.
do it fast–you do not want to miss out on a discount! Happy New Year!
I love Powell’s bookstore in Portland, Oregon. It is an entire city block, two stories (plus a full basement) chock full of new and used books. I could camp there for a week and not see everything. It is a book lover’s heaven!!! 😉
let us go live there
Ah, great idea!! I love the way you think!! 😉
I love books and independent bookstores, too! I went to The King’s English today in Salt Lake. They have an annual sale on New Year’s Day.
then you were in heaven! Independent bookstores are becoming few and far between, but you can still find them–they are thinning out in my neck of the woods–but cities still seem to foster them