Fear and Loathing At The Library

I've been meaning to go into the Library for a while now. I've heard that they've really stepped up their "Graphic Novel" game. I use the term "Graphic Novel" in quotes because it's kind of a lame euphemism for Trade Paperback Collected Comic Books. But that is a long title, so I opt for using "Graphic Novel" in quotations, even if it annoys me a little. For the sake of cutting to the chase.

Anyway, I went into the Library and looked at their selection of Comics. They had a display set up using the drawers that used to hold the cards for the now dead Card Catalog System. All of it is set up on computers now.

They had a decent selection. I saw a "Y the Last Man" Hardcover and "Sandman" Absolute Editions (which aren't cheap at $99.00 printed on the book). I asked the nice librarian lady if there were any more and she told me of another display around the corner. And that a lot of the "less adult" books were downstairs, in the kid's section.

I checked out the display around the corner and saw a Love and Rockets collection and a few other O.G.N.'s (Original Graphic Novels). Oddly enough I am comfortable with this term. Even if it includes the before-mentioned-annoying-term, "Graphic Novel".

I went downstairs to the kid's section and saw some of the books I've seen there before and did notice some more new ones. I've taken out "Graphic Novels" from the Library before but haven't been back in a while. Last time I borrowed "League of Extraordinary Men" (which I never got around to reading) and "Batman: Dark Knight Strikes Back" (which is the only Frank Miller work I've read that I didn't like). Both of these I knew were late. At least a few weeks. Maybe a month. But I wasn't worried about late fees because what are late fee's at the Library? A nickel a day?

I picked up Neil Gaiman's "1602" and went back upstairs to check it out. I gave the nice librarian lady from before my card and she told me that the book looked interesting.

"Yeah. I really like Neil Gaiman. He's a good writer", I gushed like the fanboy that I am.

She scanned my card and said, "Oh I'm sorry...We can't let you take this book out. It says you owe $52.64".

Whoa. "Why is it that high?", I asked. Myself, a little high.

"Well, you owe late fee's on the DVDs "League of Extraordinary Men" and "Batman: Dark Knight Strikes Back" and $25.00 each for two missing items."

I'm thinking: "They weren't DVDs...".

"Can you tell me what the two missing items were?"

She takes a second. Doing some clicking on the computer.

"Looks like they where the same DVDs, "League of Extraordinary Men" and "Batman: Dark Knight Strikes Back.""

I'm thinking: "Those fucking books don't cost that much. I can get both of them for...wait, I just saw "League of Extraordinary Men" down there and I know I fucking returned them both!"

"Um...I know I returned those. And they're not DVDs, they were books. I just saw "League of Extraordinary Men" downstairs. I can go get it for you?"

I'm about to run down there when she says, "Oh...um...why don't you go talk to the lady downstairs. I'm not really in-the-know here. She can help you."

"Okay," I say. I still have "1602" in my hand. She reminds me to leave it up there, on her desk.

I go downstairs and the other librarian lady is moving some cardboard signs around in the lobby. I quickly tell her what's going on and that I was sent down to talk to her. I go and find "League of Extraordinary Men". AND THE OTHER ONE. They both look to be the same (and in the same condition) books as I borrowed.

She comes inside and walks to the computer. I tell her that I found BOTH of them. She's still probably a little confused because I explained the situation so quickly. And likely, incoherently.

She looks up my membership, looks at the books, reads the numbers, and confirms that these are the same books. She then tells me that the computer system is messed up and this happens to a lot of people.

I am now very annoyed.

She casually mentions that the books are 13 days late.

It takes me a second, but I realize something and ask, "How do you know that I was exactly 13 days late if the books were never returned?"

"Well the charge is $1.32..."

"No. I understand that. But doesn't it mean the books were returned and scanned at 13 days after the return date? If there is a charge for 13 days?"

She can't answer me.

I'm then told that I can go back upstairs to take out my book. Upstairs, the Librarian takes a few minutes confirming downstairs that it's okay to let me borrow and how to enter it in the system.

"Should Have Been Done Long Ago"

Well, I'm still working on More Songs For You. It's a matter of recording certain songs and finishing writing one song, "Jump". I need to record more.

Andy is working on beats from what I can gather. He sent me one the other night and last night, was talking about a blues one he's working on.

I just watched Trick 'R Treat and I must say it was worth the wait.

Spent some time trying to find out if the Forth Kind is really based on true events. Looks like it may not.

All for now.