Wednesday, December 01, 2010

Dear Chuck Hogan:

Dear Chuck Hogan:

Every single washable item in my apartment is clean, and I have you to thank for it.

It all started a couple weeks ago when Dana Cameron (the wicked fine writer up there in Red Sox Nation near you) mentioned how much she loved PRINCE OF THIEVES. How in fact, when she met you in person, she might have been robbed of the power of speech as she tried to convey how much she admired the book.

No fool I, I promptly ordered a copy. In due course it arrived and I took it home.

Now, what you might expect is true: I have a lot of things to read for work. I don't have a lot of time to devote to reading books just for fun.  The one time every week I do read for fun is when I tote my duds down the Ave to the local washateria.

This week was no exception. Except it only took me two hours to wash what I'd brought. And that only got me to page 75 of PRINCE OF THIEVES. (There was no way I was rushing headlong through this book, I savored every page, yes I did.)

There was only one solution, and it wasn't read faster. It was wash more.  I washed the comforters. Then the extra sheets. Then the curtains.  Sox from under the couch.  Cleaning rags. Separate trips to the Washateria of course. Why run three washers in one hour when you can run one washer for three hours.

It wasn't until I seriously considered calling my friend Juliet to see if her laundry was caught up that I came to my senses.

This read-only-at-the SudsYourDuds rule was SELF imposed and I could give myself permission to break it.

I finished PRINCE OF THIEVES sitting on my couch this morning. And it just knocked my sox off. But that's ok...I've got LOTS of clean ones in reserve.

Your devoted fan,

12 comments:

Sarah W said...

Yet another one for my list . . .

I'm thinking of alphabetizing it, just to give the bottom ones a fighting chance . . .

lexcade said...

This is hilarious! I must read this book.

Margaret Yang said...

Someday, I'd like to inspire fits of cleanliness in a reader.

Dana said...

::assuming Jane-Austen-inspired posture, upright, hands clasped at bodice level::

"I feel I have done a truly useful and beautiful thing, in facilitating this acquaintance."

::assuming more familiar, slouching posture, inspired by SNL "Boston Kids"::

See? Omigawd, whad I tellya?

Julie Weathers said...

What the heck. You could have done mine. I'll mail it for next time.

Dan Krokos said...

Oh my. I've had this book for months and haven't read it. That will change soon.

Creepy Query Girl said...

lol- too funny. Good rule in theory but yeah, it didn't take into the account the addictive qualities of a good story.

Patrick DiOrio said...

FWIW: The book was made into a movie and may still be playing at your local theater: The Town is the retitle. It stars and was directed by Ben Affleck.

editordevil.blogspot.com said...

Wait. A book that washes all your stuff? And your neighbor's stuff?

That's a whole new marketing angle!


Will have to read this amazing book cleaner (right after Sean Ferrell's book of course).

Anonymous said...

This brought a tear to my eye, kindred spirit. I've burned dinner reading, forgot to let out the dog (who let me know by her present in the basement), and almost forgot to get my kids. I'm going to buy this book, today. A lil' Christmas present for myself. Thanks.

Kristin Laughtin said...

I've had moments like this, especially when I used to be able to take the bus to/from work and got a lot of my reading done there. I'd have to remind myself, "You know, you can continue reading at home..."

Amy said...

I went to Amazon with an interest in possibly buying this, and discovered that the e-book version costs $2 more than the paper version. Sigh. Way to lose a sale, publisher.