It's finally sunny here in RAINY Florida, so I may actually get to spend some time outside. Though, wow, we slept late today. Eh, it's what vacations are for sometimes.

(Thanks Raq and beth!)

I think today is going to be a shopping day. One of my favorite kinds of day.

I went out to the grocery store at the Porter Square shopping center, and realized that not only is there now a really nice independent bookstore in the strip mall area, there's also a Burlington Coat Factory now. Which means I'm doomed. Or else extremely lucky.

I bought $47 worth of stuff at the bookstore (the Bookman Cat calendar, because that often sells out well before the new year, a new Robin Hobb hardback, and a Barbara Hambly paperback I hadn't gotten around to) but right there right now because with Wordsworth gone (sniffles briefly!) I need to support all the independents I can.

Now I just have to do some housecleaning.

Today I get to go to my auto dealer and demand an explanation for the defective safety tire that ruptured within the first mile of being driven on yesterday. I wish the nice people at Firestone hadn't patched it, so I'd still have the more dramatic flat tire with detached nozzle to slam down on my dealer's desk—but I think the scored and deformed metal where I had to drive miles on the wheel rim will speak eloquently for me.

For some reason, googling Brentano's isn't giving me a site for the store. It's no Vroman's, but I was wondering how "independent" it was. I feel hypocritical, because I'm learning to love the Century City mall, despite mocking my parents for their devotion to it during their visit. But that was before the Aerosoles and Apple and Palm stores. It's totally different now.

Ooo, a Palm store? There's a Palm kiosk at a downtown mall near work, but that isn't quite the same.

ita, brentano's is part of Waldenbooks.

brentano's is part of Waldenbooks

Ah, well. If there's no independentish bookstores nearby to patronise, what's to be done? I'm sure I'm missing something in Santa Monica, but between Westwood Blvd, Westside Pavilion and Century City, I'd have to pass a lot of chain places to get there.

It's actually worse than I thought-- it's part of Borders now: [link] and it just joined with Amazon.

eta: Burrell gave me a gift certificate to a bookstore on the west side that is still independent. Wish I could remember the name. It was B something.

I think I know the one you mean, now that you mention it. In Santa Monica, I think, maybe north of Wilshire. Near 3rd.

Waldenbooks has been part of Borders for at least 15 years -- maybe closer to 20. For whatever little that's worth.

(edit to correct dates: Brentano's and Walden's were both bought by K-mart in 1984, Borders in 1992.)