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Feb. 10th, 2001 01:44 amTonight we ended up doing the bookstore thing. I got the new Jonathan Carroll book, which made me happy. Mum got two cds. I was lookin' like a Japanese teenager again: long denim skirt with slit up back, black tights and ballet flats, a stripey ribbed sweater with little belled cuffs that cover the palm of the hand, a Fine French Kitty bobby pin holding back (most of) my bangs, my black furry handbag.
The last few times I have done the Study At The Bookstore thing, I've become monumentally irritated with people around me. I realise it's not a library, but it's also rude to carry on a conversation in a bar-level voice (IE, a loud conversation) when someone is playing live music and the people around you are obviously enjoying it. Last week it was two men standing literally right over me talking about $3000 watches, which I found somewhat repellent, but they seemed affable enough. At another place, recently, it was a woman who was clearly trying to charm her companion by laughing long and loud at every single thing he said... which would have been OK once or twice, but was kind of irritating after three straight hours in an otherwise-quiet place.
Tonight's gang really took the cake. A man and a woman who'd met in a singles chatroom, probably in their late 40s (him) to late 50s (her). This disgusting creep went on and on about how his ex-wife waited on him hand and foot while they were married, now waits on their son, and still waits on him when he comes over. He dumped her when he thought she got boring, and encourages his son to do the same. He spent a full half-hour bragging about his suits, and claiming that he can size someone up in three minutes and sell them anything he wants to in thirty. The woman wasn't as bad, but she laughed at every sickening thing this guy said. I don't know, it is hard to describe, but this man was so... NOTHING... and so arrogant. I can understand, if not condone, arrogance in people who are greatly intelligent or greatly attractive. Additionally, if someone were just a really interesting or nice person it would be easy to gloss over mild personal failings. This guy wasn't handsome, or intelligent, or interesting, or nice. What a waste. It scares me that this is how the rest of the world sees the stereotypical American. It scares me that there are a lot of "ordinary, law-abiding" people like that out there... they'll never do anything bad enough to get their name in the paper, but their souls are entirely malignant in a small, banal way.
(& I really am too polite to just lean over and say "Shut the fuck up, podboy. The whole café isn't interested in how big you think your dick is." Shame, that.)
Other than that, it was a decent night. I think I'm going to hit the sack soon.
The last few times I have done the Study At The Bookstore thing, I've become monumentally irritated with people around me. I realise it's not a library, but it's also rude to carry on a conversation in a bar-level voice (IE, a loud conversation) when someone is playing live music and the people around you are obviously enjoying it. Last week it was two men standing literally right over me talking about $3000 watches, which I found somewhat repellent, but they seemed affable enough. At another place, recently, it was a woman who was clearly trying to charm her companion by laughing long and loud at every single thing he said... which would have been OK once or twice, but was kind of irritating after three straight hours in an otherwise-quiet place.
Tonight's gang really took the cake. A man and a woman who'd met in a singles chatroom, probably in their late 40s (him) to late 50s (her). This disgusting creep went on and on about how his ex-wife waited on him hand and foot while they were married, now waits on their son, and still waits on him when he comes over. He dumped her when he thought she got boring, and encourages his son to do the same. He spent a full half-hour bragging about his suits, and claiming that he can size someone up in three minutes and sell them anything he wants to in thirty. The woman wasn't as bad, but she laughed at every sickening thing this guy said. I don't know, it is hard to describe, but this man was so... NOTHING... and so arrogant. I can understand, if not condone, arrogance in people who are greatly intelligent or greatly attractive. Additionally, if someone were just a really interesting or nice person it would be easy to gloss over mild personal failings. This guy wasn't handsome, or intelligent, or interesting, or nice. What a waste. It scares me that this is how the rest of the world sees the stereotypical American. It scares me that there are a lot of "ordinary, law-abiding" people like that out there... they'll never do anything bad enough to get their name in the paper, but their souls are entirely malignant in a small, banal way.
(& I really am too polite to just lean over and say "Shut the fuck up, podboy. The whole café isn't interested in how big you think your dick is." Shame, that.)
Other than that, it was a decent night. I think I'm going to hit the sack soon.
