Antiquing

Dallas Comic Con is this weekend.  This will be my first time there, both as a fan and as a guest author.  I’m super, super excited about it, but I also have NO idea what to expect.  I think I’m set as far as wardrobe goes (I’m not dressing up like a character, but as always, I am going to try to dress nice and like I’m totally qualified to write ghost stories), but I’m still a little uncertain as to what my table should look like.  In the spirit of aesthetics and consumerism, I decided to visit an antique store.

I didn’t really find anything that I thought would go well with my table, but my sister and I did venture into the very back of the store, and the moment we set foot there, we both decided it was totally haunted.  Here are some of the pictures that I took in an attempt to capture the spooky atmosphere.

Okay, so I took way more pictures than I thought I did.  But it was a really cool store!

In other news, yesterday the weather was awful, so my sister, a friend, and I decided to watch that terrible movie adaptation of an even more terrible book.  You know, the one that’s supposed to be really kinky.

Yes, I’m talking about Fifty Shades of Grey.  And yes, I drank a lot of wine.

I went into this movie thinking that I would be laughing and rolling my eyes at how awful it was.  I expected it to have a mediocre script with mediocre acting.  But overall, I thought I would at least be a little shocked and scandalized.  Sadly, I was none of the above.

Y’all.  This movie is boring.  I was so surprised at how bored I was the entire time.  It wasn’t even so bad that it was funny.  It was just dull.  I didn’t care what happened to anyone (except the cute guy who worked in the hardware store, but we never saw him again after his glorious first appearance – sad).  What made it worse was that I found myself hoping something weird and crazy would happen just to make the six bucks I spent worth it.  But no.  Nothing.  Just a crazy rich control freak (with an apparently super pointless business because I have no idea what he actually does) obsessed with a girl with the personality of a dust mite (I swear, this girl could win the lottery and she’d still be like, “Meh”) and sometimes he spanks her.

Hello!  This movie was rated “R?”  Why?  Because they said the F word a few times?  Maybe years of watching crime dramas and cult documentaries has desensitized me or something, because this movie was just two hours of lame.  Also, I am sick to death of the female protagonists with the personality of a wet paper towel falling head over heals for the angsty tortured guy who’s “so bad for them” while completely ignoring the sweet, cute, happy, funny, down-to-earth guys that would make much better boyfriends.  Christian Grey doesn’t like going to movies or out to dinner?  Forget you, pal.  You sound like the worst date ever.

Oh, and you’re a stalker too.

Anyway, there’s my Fifty Shades rant.  If you’re still reading this, I applaud you.

Enjoy the rest of your evenings, everyone!

Dear Joyce

Dear Joyce, 

Over the weekend, my sister and I decided to go Christmas shopping at the local antique mall.  I was looking for presents for my friends, but I knew I’d be tempted to buy something for myself.  I’ve always loved shopping at antique malls.  There are so many interesting treasures, all with real and unique histories.  My sister and I both agree that if we had a lot of money, antique stores would get a lot of our business.

Happily, I ended up finding presents for my friends, and even a little something for my mom.  I was very close to leaving without purchasing anything for me.  After all, Christmas is only a week away.  It’s not at all the time to be buying myself presents.  However, as I rounded a corner, a shelf full of beautiful antique books came into view.  As an author, I have a huge soft spot for books, and I particularly love antique books.  We have a decent collection of antique books in our family, but I am always looking to expand upon that collection.  But I remained steadfast, reminding myself that I was buying for loved ones, not for me.

I really thought I would be able to resist until I saw the crimson binding and the elegant script reading, Grimms’ Fairy Tales.

 

You may not know this, but I love Fairy Tales.  Probably a lot more than an almost-26-year-old woman should.  Then again, Albert Einstein did say, “If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales.  If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.”  So I guess by Einstein’s standards, I’m a downright genius.  I actually have another old classic fairy tale book that once belonged to my mom.  I used to read it all the time as a kid.  But there was something about this book.  Without a second thought, I added it to my shopping basket.  

It’s a really beautiful book.  

Joyce Peterson and Randy Peterson.  

I’ve shopped at Half Price Books before, so buying books that once belonged to someone else isn’t anything new.  But in your signature at the top of the inner cover, I saw the same childlike love and pride that I felt for my favorite books.  I’ve penned my name in every single one of my books, even my most recent purchases.  

I thought I had an idea of how much this book meant to you until I turned the page.. 

If this book should chance to roam, please wrap it up and send it home – to: Miss Joyce Peterson.  Crown Point, Indiana.

This book has roamed a long way, all the way to North Texas.  I’m not sure how it got here, or if you still remember it.  I’m not sure this letter will ever reach you, but if it does and you’d like your beloved book back, just let me know.  If not, I wanted you to know that it is in good hands and will be cherished like the treasure that it is.  

Wherever you are, Joyce, I hope you are well and blessed.  Merry Christmas.  And thank you.    

Love,

Jackie