The Fine Print

Borders has a programs call "Plus". What separates it from their regular rewards is an extra 10% off of hardcover books and free online shipping. Those are the big ones. When I thought about how most of the graphic novel collections I purchase are hardback and The Hunger Games series is all hardback I figured - why not? It's 20 bucks for the year and that right there is almost going to have me break even before I buy much else.

Then I reread the deals. the 40% off is actually not on all hardcovers but on those considered Best Sellers. While this still might apply for the Hunger Games series, I doubt it. The policy is probably that it is for books currently on the best seller list, meaning that only the most recent of the series would still qualify. Additionally, none of the graphic novel collections would count. I am typically not interested in the books that end up as best sellers. More often than not, the books that become popular are not what for me. I am more likely to read a novel about some dystopian future or a book by David Eggers. While 20 bucks is not a lot and I could potentially break even, I am now less likely to jump at the offer. I should have figured the sales pitch of "if you sign up you get 40% off of hardcovers" was too good.

It's not about the destination

It's about the journey.

That is the mindset I have adopted from my friend, Warren, about trips into the city. Needing a goal, an errand, a destination to spend time in the city is silly. Instead, the time spent in the city leading up to that goal, if there is one, is worth it in it of itself. Tonight I went into the city with him and my friend Kristen. I had a few loose goals: see if I can pick up a book at the library, and hunt down a Frame store to finally frame a print of a painting I purchased a few months ago. Warrens only goal was to get into the Mozart show at Lincoln Center.

All of this backfired. The library was closed by the time we got into the city, and they don't carry the novel at Barnes & Noble. The frame store was closed by the time we got to it, and the show was sold out. Nonetheless we were mobile from 5:15 to 10:15. Even though we accomplished none of our goals, we all still agreed we were happier to have made the trip than not.