Quotidian report
Just back from Whole Foods, where I was delighted to discover padrón peppers as a new produce item. These, you may recall, are the small, wrinkly green peppers that you sauté whole in olive oil, then enjoy with a chilled beverage of your choice. Almost all of the peppers are mild, but occasionally (around 5%, I’d guess) you’ll get one that’s spicy, though not terribly. About 1%, however, are terribly spicy: a-cup-of-yogurt-and-a-scoop-of-ice-cream spicy. (While it was going on in my mouth, I kept repeating to myself, “No one dies from this” but I didn’t really believe it.) It’s a gastronomic version of Russian roulette. Google will tell you more if you ask.
Also stopped by a local tobacco store (cigars, pipe tobacco and pipes, chess sets, traditional wetshaving supplies, etc.) and gave them a couple of copies of the book to see whether it sells in person. (See note below for retail info.)
I did my morning Spanish with all the new words, and I find (a) that I really now enjoy the process: having to repeat the card multiple times in the same session when I first encounter it, and then, as I learn it, see the intervals grow longer and longer for that card—though occasionally, of course, one will get a more extended return engagement; and (b) that it’s becoming easier to learn new vocabulary: I have now a large enough lexicon that some parts form a net with which to catch related new words as they pass by. So some new vocabulary I learn almost instantly—and, of course, there’s the delightful (and repeated) experience of having a new word suddenly illuminate one or more words you already knew, only now you view them differently because of what the new word has shown. .. An example would help, wouldn’t it? Well, I had learned descubrir (to discover) and then later learned cubrir (to cover), and I thought, “Aha! des-cubrir” and then realized it worked exactly the same way in English. Another: I had learned partir (to cut) and then learned compartir (to share), and somehow that made sense in terms of mnemonics if not etymology: to share, you cut it up to divide it out. And sometimes a single new word illuminates several others, but I can’t think of an example offhand.
Note on retail sales (in case you’re a shaving vendor):
The book is available from third-party distributors Ingram/LSI and Baker and Taylor. These distributors have this title available to purchase through their channels. If a business has an account established with either one, it can purchase the title directly through either distributor at a wholesale price.
If the Ingram/LSI or Baker and Taylor account is infeasible because of volume purchase requirements, then you can apply for a CreateSpace Direct account by visiting www.createspace.com/info/createspacedirect.
To be eligible, an applicant must be a licensed business and an active reseller. After submitting information, CreateSpace will validate the qualifications for access to CreateSpace Directs wholesale pricing, and notify the business of its status within one business day. Titles with CreateSpace have the following discounts when available via CreateSpace Direct:
Libraries – 20% discount
Retail – 35% discount
Distribution – 45% discount
