h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

How did I get so many books?

Why are the books on the shelves near the couch far dustier than any other books in the apartment?

I am struggling with getting the books into boxes. I've done this many times before, and it never seems to work right. There seem to be standard sizes for books, but too many standards, so that I can start a row of books of one size, then I have to switch to another size. It is like a real life game of tetris, only the bottom row never disappears. It all just gets heavier.

Of course it is a beautiful Saturday afternoon, the first break in the humid, rainy weather we have had in a long time, and I am inside packing and sneezing. But I promised myself I would start packing this weekend, so I am staying right here. Books always get packed first. Magazines get thrown away.

So far I've packed three boxes, but I have yet to clear off the shelves that were tucked away in the dining area. I've got lots more to do. I'll need to get more boxes.

It's also funny what you find when packing. I just found the receipt for the moving truck from the last time around, two and half years ago. For some reason the books on that shelf were NOT dusty. It doesn't make any sense.

Just found the old Infocom, text-only version of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy game, circa 1986, I think. I wonder if it still works on a Power Macintosh? I would just have to find my floppy disk drive expansion bay module...

Books breed. That's the only reason I can come up with for the ever-increasing number of books in my house.

Seriously, though, as I just mentioned in another posting, Richard and I are going to Egypt next month. I went shopping today, planning to get a couple of paperback books on Ancient Egyptian history to take with me. I came home with 12 books, 3 of which have nothing to do with Egypt! I think we need a bigger house!

They breed! I had better be careful what I place next to what then. Otherwise I'll find myself reading "Huckleberry Karamazov."

I always promise myself I will buy no more than one or two books when I walk into a bookstore. Apparently I am not a trustworthy person, because I break my promises constantly.

Make sure you read those books about Egypt before you get there. I would hate to think of you missing the sights because you had your nose in a book, looking at the pictures of the pyramids (while they are right in front of you)!

One book will go with me in my handbag, to be read on the plane - it's a five hour flight, not including any delays there might be. The other books (and maybe one or two more) will go in my suitcase to be read at the hotel or on the Nile cruise. I never read anything while visiting a place, except maybe a guide book if there's a good one available. Besides, why read while there's something as amazing as an Ancient Egyptian temple to look at.

One book I will definitely read before I go, and will also take with me, is one on reading Egyptian Hieroglyphs. It would be nice to have some idea of what the inscriptions say, rather than just thinking, 'Oh, some hieroglyphs. How interesting!'