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.

Sketch #1

Anna and Joseph are going to celebrate their 3rd year anniversary tomorrow. It’s 11 in the evening and Joseph is trying to figure out what to give her. They’re a modest couple and would rather tone down the gifts. Both have a fascination for food though, which is evidenced by their horizontally gifted waistlines.

“Hmm, maybe… hmmm no. She’s had enough of that stuff.”

As he’s thinking about what to give his love, he changes into his sleep clothes. Slipping onto the bed, pulling up the blanket over him, he mouths the words

“Hmmm. Maybe.”

His eyes give in and he dozes off to the night.

Anna is on her seat inside their favorite restaurant – Amore. It’s a piquant name for the restaurant at the corner of ___ and ___. It was coined by the chief kusinero (cook). He usually tries to charm long time patrons. Speaking in his faux Italian accent with his chest bursting out -

“When you order my food dear, you’ll want to order a-more, haha.”

Anna looks at her watch, as she glances up, the restaurant door swings open and Joseph is at the door. He’s smiling looking at his lady love. He walks towards the table.

“Sorry I’m late. I changed my mind about the gift at the last minute.”

Anna peers at Joseph, trying to guess what he has for her.

“So what did you decide on?”, she asks intently.

Joseph grins and shrugs his shoulders. “I wanted to get you roses and chocolates hon. But I decided to just give you roses. I don’t want you getting melamine from your comfort food.”

**************

Don’t know what I’m writing anymore. I figured coming up with a life sketch would fill up the void created by writer’s block.

Enjoy the weekend and stay away from dairy products particularly if they’re made from China. Let’s see how and when this will be resolved.