Why do I detest textbook reps? Someone just stopped by my office and took up 20 minutes of my time rattling on and on about his company's book . . . Never mind that we just chose a new Bizcomm book, so even if I loved his (and it was hard to tell because he sure didn't have a copy - or even a URL), that would make no difference at the moment. It's like seed falling on rocks - or better, snow. It's just the wrong season. Never mind that I looked - nay, was - busy doing something else. I'm about ready to burn my spare office chair so people can't sit down when they come to my door.

Whenever I see textbook reps I think of the lavish publishers' parties at the 4 C's, the major convention for composition teachers. I used to love those parties, secure in the knowledge that since I wasn't assigning textbooks, the bounty wasn't coming out of my students' hides. Now I will probably have to avoid those parties . . .

And I meant to write about the textbook selection process here, which resulted in us choosing what I consider to be a very nice book. The most noteworthy things about the process were [a] I not only participated, but I led the whole thing, and [b] I feel enormously satisfied with our decision. For days afterward, I'd look at the book among my possessions and feel a flush of pleasure. Those of you who have been with me through textbook selections in other years and other contexts must be wondering what happened . . . Me, too, I guess!