The HBS or Book Hoarding Syndrome, and undemocratically listening to people belting out of tune songs

I really don’t update my blog as often as I want to because I’m finding it increasingly more difficult to have the time to write.  However, from time to time when I stare blankly at my blog site, I tell myself, “Hey bud, you better write something or you’re gonna get rusty soon.” Today is that time.

As a writer, I read a lot. So because I read a lot, I have a lot (of books).

However, most of my books have been gathering dust.

I probably have what I call the book hoarding syndrome (HBS), especially when I see books on bargain. Unlike stocks, you aren’t catching a falling knife when you get something that’s 50% off its original price. And mind you, there are a lot on sale these coming weeks at the National Bookstore due to their annual September sale. I also can’t wait for the upcoming Book Fair.

I’m glad that there are now a lot of people flocking to bookstores, probably because of how Fully Booked redefined book reading and book selling. It’s also probably due to the proliferation of books to movies like Harry Potter and Twilight. I saw how teens save up money just to buy copies of the said series. At least people respect intellectual property rights when it comes to the printed media.

Going back to HBS, I found myself in book heaven recently due to the ongoing sale in National (Powerbooks recently ended theirs). I loitered around looking for great bargains.

I am especially drawn to hardbound business books that have lost half or more of its value. Business books are expensive and getting them at dirt cheap prices comes only once a year. So now I have a pile of books sitting on the floor just waiting for my curious eyes to take notice of their words.

During a recent trip to the Robinsons Ermita branch of National, I couldn’t help (actually, you really cannot) noticing (actually, hearing) a girl singing to her heart’s content at the Magic Sing kiosk. She belted one out out-of-tune song after another. I wanted to approach her and ask her if it was really part of her job description.

It’s one of the biggest mysteries of the universe. How do you attract people to buy something when the live testimonial for it is soooo bad? Maybe that explains why there are more people buying Magic Sing at Odyssey Record Bars than in National Bookstore. Or, it can just be a simple case of bad distribution strategy. I could be wrong.

Power without Charm

After a terrible incident on Monday, I still feel shivers down my rickety spine. It’s already Wednesday; 2,880 agonizing minutes have already passed but paranoia continues to enjoy resting on my shoulders.

No I wasn’t held up, but I was once a victim of the circumstance – and my personal ignorance – while riding a jeep along pollution and petty thieves infested Recto.

The circumstance – I realized I was alone with 3 thieves on board. One was sticking out his fan knife at me like a laser pointer aimed at my face.

My Ignorance – Recto. Taking out your mobile phone.

The rest is a story of priceless historical idiocy. Ignorance of the laws of the universe excuses no one. Especially the ones who stick out their mobile phones in public places.

Last Monday, I fell victim yet again to another law of the universe – clear the hell out of the way of the President if you want to see your car again.

I wouldn’t have had this problem if our greedy landlord spared a parking slot for us. But that’s worth another story.

We park on the street and this Monday, the Grand Dame had to make a grand visit somewhere, and our car – along with the neighbors’ – were getting in the way of her public entrance.

Under threat of a 2,000 peso penalty, as well as the possible damage to the handbrake, I hurried my ass back home.

Upon arriving, the only car left on the street was – you guessed it – ours. So I climbed up a 100 steps to our floor, and ran back down skipping two steps at a time.

(Yes, there’s no working elevator. Our landlord wants to imbibe in the tenants and unit owners the value of exercise – even for those aged 60 and up. If there is a God, I’d like to ask one simple question, where is the equity in life?)

I opened the door to the driver’s seat, rammed the keys in, turned on the engine and stepped on the gas. I didn’t care if my heavy foot evaporated all the gas in the tank.

About ten minutes later, I find out that Madame President passed by. Just in the nick of time.

Now is that power or what? If someone can make you climb up a hundred steps without stopping to catch his breath, that’s power.

But it’s charm when you can climb up that many steps, go down to park your car, and then wait for the parade to pass by so you’d get to greet the personalities.

You get what you want both ways, but only one of them will make someone go the extra mile.

Thank God there’s an election.

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Favorite quote at the moment: our name is our virtue.