Saturday, January 14, 2012

Where I Live...

















Hey, is there still time to get in on the Saturday Snapshot?
I'm afraid my entry this week is not only late, but also -- not all that super-exciting or anything. It's a moonlit picture of where I live. Not really, but almost.
In all seriousness, I spend so much time at this particular bookstore, [mostly in the Starbucks inside it] that well, yes, I might as well live here. I've considered getting my mail forwarded. When it comes down to it, my cat is the dominant tenant in my apartment, time-wise at least! [I wish he would help with the bills!]
For those who may not know, Chapters / Indigo is Canada's biggest bookstore chain. It's the true north Walmart of book-buying.
This particular store opened in 1996, and I've been here pretty much every day since. It's my hangout after work. Over the years I've gotten to know so many "regulars" -- people that also frequent the place.
But I remain, by far, the regularest of them all.
They come and go -- but I have outlived even all of the staff! Many times over!
I'd love to know how many thousands of gallons of coffee I've consumed here.
How frequently do I visit? Well….. I'm writing this blog from the place.
And you can't be more here than that!

Many thanks to Alyce from At Home With Books for hosting this Saturday Snapshot meme.

******

13 comments:

Trish said...

Oh man . . . I love that place. I wish they would concentrate more on books, though. They've got too many homey knick-knacks for my liking. The attached Starbucks is inspired! Getting your mail forwarded? Yeah, I should too. lol

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

What a perfect name for a bookstore:)

Marie said...

I love my local Chapters, too. I don't spend too much time there, though. My wallet could bare the strain. ;)

Leslie (Under My Apple Tree) said...

Chapters... I like that!

Nise' said...

A perfect place to spend time, it has books and coffee!

Cipriano said...

Trish -- so you are a Chapters fan as well. Excellent. Let us keep frequenting these places so they do not shut down.
I rue the advent of e-books, I'm afraid.
Not only will I be left without actual hardcopy books, but I will also be homeless!

Diane -- I recall the first day that I EVER saw a Chapters sign. It had not even been installed yet. I was sitting in a coffee shop called The Steaming Bean, and a semi-trailer went by on Besserer Street, and it had the first big Chapters sign on it. I was fascinated, because the bi-line was "Great Books Are Just The Beginning."
I chased that semi-trailer like a frigging St. Bernard, tongue flapping in the wind...

Marie -- I know what you mean... one time, as I went to renew my iRewards card [now defunct] the cashier informed me that I had spent over $500 there in the previous 12 months.

Leslie -- it's the perfect name. Nothing since the invention of the actual "Big Mac" has ever been so appropriately named.
And did you know that Starbucks was named after a character in Moby Dick?

Nise -- In certain dictionaries [I have one of them right here] if you look up the word "perfect" there is a brief explanation, followed by a picture of a Chapters sign next to a Starbucks one.
Vive le red and green!

Alyce said...

It sounds like a great place to hang out. I wish we had something like that here. Ever since Borders closed I'd have to drive an hour and a half if I wanted to find a bookstore that has a cafe in it. At least there are some independent bookstores within a 45 minute drive.

I almost featured a moon shot this week too.

Cipriano said...

Alyce -- this blog-meme of yours is fantastic. It accounts for 99% of my traffic.
I hope you keep it going, and I wish you well with the internet woes you mentioned on your page.
All the best to you.
[Good luck with the cream-colored pieces of your puzzle....]

Louise said...

What a wonderful local hangout. One of our (independent) bookshops just added a coffee shop, but since I don't drink coffee it hasn't been a great drawcard for me. I do understand the attraction though, and admire your devotion.

Anonymous said...

I've bought a few books from Chapters online. Good to know that they have a very nice bookstore(s) to visit. I can certainly understand the attraction! LOL

Anonymous said...

Isn't it odd... Your a regular who's more regular than most and yet every time your homie and I have been there we only ran into you the once.
Odd...
C.

kingmonkey said...

I don't know if you're aware of this, Cippy cup, but Chapters employees get (or used to get, when I worked there) 30% off on all books... including bargain books!

Cipriano said...

Louise -- ahhh, a bookstore and coffee, the perfect combination. I long for the day when they start selling hamburgers also, and then we shall have the Perfect Trio of Merchandise all under one roof!

Kay -- that's the amazing thing. Buying the books from the same store online is much cheaper always than being in the actual store.

"C" -- that is an odd phenomenon indeed! It was so cool to see you there that one time. Say Hi to Lawrence for me! [Or as the French would say, "Laurence".]

Kingmonkey -- Holy cow! You've worked at Consumers Distributing and Chapters and in Hollywood as a stunt double for Claude Van Damme? You have an impressive curriculum vitae!