the eye of Nova's mind

I've needed a new backpack for weeks, as I'd tried to tote a sealed bottle of 3-in-1 oil which broke in the bag, after which the contents saturated the fabric of the backpack. The odor, intense the first handful of days, has dissipated but is still present. Also, if anything were to topple from any other container into the bottom of the bag, it would get contaminated (see my individually wrapped peppermints--the oil permeated the cellophane each was in).

So my dad gave me a ten-spot for a replacement. I'd told him I was planning to visit Kiwanis, a thrift store in AA. However, I didn't have directions and the library wasn't to open today until noon. So I changed my plans and headed to ValuWorld, a place I'd never really been but had heard about a lot (particularly from sarahmichigan).

At first, I wasn't sure if they even carried backpacks, but the store was enormous and thus invited one to windowshop, so I strolled through the aisles, stopping first at the bookshelves (of course). I picked up three paperback volumes (one of which was of poems), each $.60 or less. That's not much, I thought. Onto other aisles.

Eventually, I discovered the store did carry backpacks. In fact, there were a slew of backpacks, most at incredibly reasonable rates. I bought not one but two packs, the total for both coming in at under $4.00. Both are in great shape; one even has a spot at the top for earbuds (stemming from a pouch for portable music, which is too small for my Walkman).

I still had money to spend, so I cruised some more. I picked up two hats and a sleeveless red-plaid dress. This brought my entire total past $10.00, but I had enough for the difference.

All told, I spent less than $14 for eight items. I'll have to visit the store again when I return to purchasing professional clothes.

I didn't stick to my one-poem-a-day schedule, due to being away from home and spending time with friends. I am considering just making it so that I pen two pieces during the weekends, no matter when they are written, so I have at least the equivalent of one poem a day.

My next project: to write a poem longer than twelve lines. Twenty would be more like it. Edit: Make that my next project. Really.