Today was a fairly quiet day, in spite of the fact that I drove up to my monthly stamp show.

Yesterday’s storm had passed by morning and the sun was out. I had hoped to sleep really late, but was up at seven thirty. I wonder what happened to the good old days when I had no trouble sleeping until noon? It’s not as if I’m not tired…

Ah for the good old days.

In any case I was out and gone by eleven, and at the show by noon. The traffic was surprisingly heavy, and on a highway that was once a vast wasteland. I used to hate driving that road because there are no rest areas and if you broke down you could be stranded for hours. Now it’s filled with traffic and speed traps.

Fortunatley I saw a trap early on and refrained from using the lead foot.

I actually kind of enjoyed the ride. One of the radio stations plays all Broadway tunes from 10-2 on Saturday mornings so I just happily sang along and enjoyed the sunshine.

I didn’t buy very much this time. I think it’s because I have an order sue in at my favorite stamp store and I know it’s going to be pricey. And I also know that I’ll end up buying even more stuff once I wander the store. So I just picked up six stamps and some paper. Not that it still didn’t add up to over fifty dollars.

I seem to have made a new circle of friends at this stamp show and it’s fun to talk stamping and see the same people each month. Most of them are from northern Massachusetts or New Hampshire and are avid stampers.

I also enjoy watching the demonstrations of different stamping techniques and seeing if I can learn something new to do with all the stuff I already own. Today I learned one new thing to try out. Of course by the time I get around to doing it I’ll forget the instructions.

I then headed to my parents to give my mother her St. Patrick’s Day gift and the Irish soda bread that I made last night. I hung around to talk for about an hour or so, and called Dee to see where we were going for dinner. She had company so the plans were off. That meant that I had to go to the grocery store to get something to cook or else do take out. I decided to bite the bullet and picked up a piece of steak.

I know, not exactly gourmet, but at least it was healthier (to some extent) than McDonald’s or Kentucky Fried Chicken!

In the "it never fails" department: Dee’s company left about fifteen minutes after I called and we could have gone out afterall.

Not that I really cared all that much. I was just as happy to stay in for the evening.

I could have stamped with my new stuff but instead I decided to read. I gave up on The Pilot’s Wife as I was finding it to be depressing. Instead I decided to read about New York City, thanks to Helene Hanff. She is one of my favorite authors and her New York books have been sitting on my shelves for several years, gathering dust and unread. I don’t know what was stopping me. I just love her writing style and the fact that it’s all true. These aren’t made up stories, but things she experienced. In that I’m still feeling like I need a dose of New York City, these books are going to have to give me a vicarious thrill.

Her book 84 Charing Cross Road remains one of my favorites. It’s one of my "comfort" books. When I feel lousy, or stressed I can go to that book and lose myself in the pages. I even keep a copy of it on my desk at school for those times when I need to clear my head and escape for a few minutes. I can open up to any page, know exactly where I am in the story and calm my nerves. It’s an old friend.

I love books that are old friends and can always be relied upon.