The Multnomah County Library book sale is this weekend. (Last year was the first year I attended.) You can find it at the intersection of NE 16th and Sandy. I would have mentioned this earlier except I didn't want any extra competition for the books. There was enough of a crowd there anyhow.

I haven't been able to kick this illness since it re-appeared Sunday afternoon. It's more of a stomach flu than anything else (though it doesn't really feel like a flu). So, I stayed home sick yesterday, using a vacation day because nothing was going to keep me from the book sale.

And sure enough, one o'clock found me in a long line, winding up 16th, waiting to be let in to Paradise.

Only it wasn't really Paradise.

Believe it or no, since we bought this house, my book acquisitiveness has declined severely. I no longer need to possess every book I see. In fact — gasp — lately, I've considered purging a portion of my library.

Still, there are books I want: books on local history, comic book compilations, quality editions of the classics, Modern Library editions (especially with dust jackets).

When I finally entered the building, I started at the Pacific Northwest section. There were many, many copies of the Oregon Historical Quarterly. I gathered them all and put them in my bag. Then I thought: "Do I really need these? Will I really read them? Are they really worth $1.50 each? Can't I just borrow them from the library?" And I set them back on the table.

Eventually, I did find a few books on Portland history that I wanted: Portland: A Historical Sketch and Guide, A Short History of Portland, Stumptown Triumphant, and A Century of Portland Architecture.

Next, I sorted through the several boxes of pamphlets (a quarter a piece!). I took several pamphlets on bird watching and bird identification. I found several on organic gardening, one on tree identification, a reproduction of a pamphlet from 1856 on behaving on a genteel woman, and a few others. While I was browsing through the pamphlets, a big greasy fellow squeezed between me and another guy. This greasy fellow brought with him a foul miasma, a combination of body order and the thick, cloying odor of marijuana. It was as if he had bathed in the stuff. He leafed through the pamphlets at a manic pace, snatching up many.

Finally, I browsed the classics/literature section, hunting for gems. I found a few decent volumes, but nothing that really knocked my socks off. My best find was an old, battered Modern Library edition (without dust jacket) of Plutarch's Lives (of the Ancient Grecians and Romans). This mammoth book looks intriguing; perhaps Nick would like to borrow it.

In the end, I spent $34.25 on a bag filled with books. I exercised self-control.

The Multnomah County Library book sale continues today and tomorrow. (Sunday is 75% off day!)

On this day at foldedspace.org

2002 — Drink Up Me Hearties Yo-Ho   From the first gentle minute gliding through the bayou to the final clanking ascent and return to the starting gate, I was in awe.

2001 — Drip   It's raining, and there's a leak in the hallway.