A Secret Agent and Cupcakes.

A legitimate post! First of the year. Whoopie.

So this afternoon I had the sudden urge to go to Borders. I have been itching to go for the past week or so. I've been yearning to buy several books. Some books I don't even really want, I just get them because I know I'll read it some time later on, and I'll like it. My future wunderkinds will definitely like them too. I'll whip them into shape. With Hemingway and Salinger.

Anyways, upon arriving at the store at 5:30, i went through the doors, and I could have sworn I heard cherubic little angels in the distance, humming a harmonious tune (I'm thinking it was Coldplay's Yellow). Bright lights. Shelves upon shelves, tables upon tables of books. Music. Movies. Caffeinated substance. Heaven. After a week of people just annoying me and having no regard for my privacy and well-being, this was a contrast very much so needed.

I started circling the 'new releases' and 'best sellers', smiling as a made a check list of books in my head, with each book i passed on the tables crossing out an item on my list one by one. But then I needed to get focused, for there was a book that I was on a search for. The Gun Seller. Never heard of it? You might know the author. Dr. House himself, Hugh Laurie. After hearing from a good friend of it's quick wit and secret agent fun, I was very intrigued. So my quest began, scanning aisle to aisle looking for the authors that started with 'L'. After several minutes, I found the 'LA's, having to bend down on my knees to look for the book. And then, as if Godsend, I found it. Only one copy, and it was right there on the farthest right hand side of the shelf. "A-Punk" by Vampire Weekend started playing on the speakers, and it was the coolest 'moment of truth' moment ever. I took out the book, held it close with happiness, and skipped on, looking for the next book that would satisfy my cranium.


But then I was distracted by the CDs. I went through the pop/rock section alphabetically, checking out the prices of the album I already had. $17.99 for Kid A??? Mad! Though In Rainbows was only $11.99, so it compensated I guess. I have this thing where even though I already have the albums, I check them out in the CDs section anyways, just for kicks. I'm odd, I know.

After that is the DVDs (I'm telling you, I went through ALL of the store). Hot Fuzz on sale for $14.99!!! But I have a gift card to Target, so I thought perhaps I would buy it there. Plus, I felt guilty shelling out so many quids in one shopping time.

I don't usually peruse through the cookbooks section, but from the back of my mind, I remembered my interest in baking some different kinds of cupcakes, rather than the mundane vanilla Magnolia Bakery recipe I've been using for two years. I wish to hone my skills as a cupcake connoisseur. So I got this adorable cookbook, with dainty photos of sweet cupcakes in bright pastels and dreamy chocolate brown. So cute! I can't wait to try out the recipes.


After snickering at the romance novel sale they were having (buy 4, get 1 free, by the way), I paid for the books and headed for the coffee shop adjacent. Naturally, I had to check the newsstand, and I was pretty pleased. The new issue of Elle is on the stands now (Amy Adams!), so fingers crossed that it will come in the mail tomorrow! After making sure no one was looking, I crept to the back where the sports magazines were, scanning for any footie (soccer, for you Yanks) magazines. And sure enough, there were several, including one with El Niño himself, Fernando Torres! Personally, he's not my favorite footballer, Cesc Fabregas is my husband after all, but there's no denying he's awesome. Plus, there's a few Cesc mentions in the magazines!! Then I found out there was another recent issue, but with Wayne Rooney (meh). Honestly, I didn't know that Osama Bin Laden was a gooner! So what do me, the Queen of England, and Osama Bin Laden have in common? We are Arsenal Football Club fans. :P I sat there, reading the mags for a good half-hour, giggling in my head whenever I saw an ad featuring Fatty--err...Franky Lampard. :P I got a weird stare from a man looking at magazines nearby, but whatsoever. Nothing can change my love for the sport. Come to think of it...I don't know any 16 year old Asian-American girls that love footie this much. I blame it on my family.



Afterwards I ordered a hot mocha and sat with my book, nearly burning my tongue from the coffee. I got three chapters down, silently chuckling at Sir Laurie's humor along the way (I think he should be knighted sometime in the future...he is England's gift to America. Him and Coldplay). Matter of fact, Chris Martin should be knighted to. And Simon Pegg. Ahh off topic.

My night was wonderful so far. Sitting in a cafe in a bookstore with a good book and a coffee, peace and quiet. No mall rats. It was absolutely perfect. I enjoyed my new book in tranquility. Until these tweens, no older than twelve, came in the cafe. Abercrombie-clad in all their infamous glory, donning denim miniskirts with complementary Uggs in the dead of winter. I nearly gagged on my mocha. It irked me how kids these days are assuming that if they cause a scene and drink coffee, that they are cool. It's absolutely ridiculous. Totally ruining the Vampire Weekend (who were being played continually throughout the night...awesome) playing on the speakers. Ugh. I remember when I was twelve, and I don't think I was ever that obnoxious. At least I hope I wasn't. Nevertheless, I'm quite an odd child now, but at least I don't get into the antics of today's youth. I hate sounding so elitist, but it's just annoying. Sorry kids.

After they left, I could finally enjoy the rest of my reading time. I then checked the time, and was shocked that it was already 8:30! Time to leave, the parents were waiting. I left the store feeling so satisfied, definitely the highlight of my week. And if I bored you with this anti-climatic story, I apologize. It was just a very exciting night for me. Alone with a book. Fabulous.