DJ or DW:  Dust Jacket or Dust Wrapper.  The printed wrapper that is folded around the book. These began as plain wrappers to protect the book inside. The book itself was usually ornately styled. These dust jackets became more elaborate and became a way to promote the book inside.  In modern book collecting, an original dust jacket is treasured. In many cases, the dust jacket can represent 70 to 80% of the total value of a first edition or important book. Dust Jackets are usually most important for Fiction.

HB/HC: Hardback/Hardcover

PB: Paperback

ISBN: International Standard Book Number is found on the back of most books in the UPC (Universal Product Code). It can also be found on the page facing the introduction/dedication/title page.

Boards: The front and back covers of a hardcover book; the stiff portions of a binding with a final cover of paper.

Foxed, Foxing: Refers to the discoloration, usually a yellowish brown, that appears on old paper . These can be caused by chemical impurities in the paper or bacteria and mold. These can affect all books but some paper is more susceptible.

Dog-Ear, Dog-Earred:  The turned-down corner of a book page - don't do this to your books, please use a bookmark.

Remainder Mark:  The ink mark, large or small, often red or black, found on the book's edges. No doubt publishers haver their reasons for befouling books with these marks.

Edgewear:  Catchall term referring to usually modest damage to book's edges.

Spine: The spine is the backbone of a book. Because this is all you usually see when a book is on a shelf it usually has the title and author listed and can be quite ornate. The top is called the head and the base is the tail.

FE: First Edition. Quite hard to tell even if it says First Edition. It may be a U.S. first edition but not a world first edition, for example. Also, it may be a paperback first edition etc. but not a hardback edition. Since World War II, books often include a number line (printers key) that indicates the print run.

After a long exhausting day at work, you're relaxing in a hot tub full of fragrant bubbles reading a juicy book. You're on the good part...then your worst nightmare happens.  The book falls our of your hands into your bathtub. Can your wet book be salvaged?

If you retrieve it from the bathtub just as it hits the water, you have a chance to minimize damage. 

If the book has a dust jacket, remove it.  Quickly but gently pat dry the dust jacket (both sides), the book's covers and spine, and all the book pages.  Use dry sponges, clean bath towels, or any other absorbent cloth that's handy, including your clothing.  Single-ply paper towels absorb moisture, but they disintergrate, adding shreds of wet toweling to dry on damp book surfaces.  A double-ply paper towel will not only absorb moisture; it is less likely to leave debris that you will have to remove from the book.

A hair dryer, at its lowest temperature, can help propel the water away from the paper surfaces and spines.  A lot depends on the paper.  Coated paper and dust jackets will soak up water more slowly than uncoated paper.

When you have removed as much excess water as possible by blotting, carefully open the book, insert double-ply paper towels between the pages. This keeps the pages from clinging together, and allows for some evaporation.  Stand the book upright so that its pages are not compressed. Keep air moving by using a fan but do not directly point it toward the book. Change the paper towels regularly until the pages are dry.  

Another option, is to put the books in a damp-resistant container and an absorbent natural product, such as pipe tobacco. Sprinkle stale pipe tobacco in the container, and place the book inside, double-ply paper towels still between the pages.  Periodically check the book for progress.  Replace the double-ply towel sheets as they gather moisture.

You might place the wet book in a window for three hours a day, during the middle of the day.  If there are covers that might fade in the sun, shield them from the light, letting them absorb the warmth.  Exposing the book to sunlight accomplishes two things, the method dries books without baking them, and it retards the growth of spores and bacteria, which books might acquire in the bathwater or when wet, from the surrounding air. 

Please note:  It's rarely possible to restore a wet book to anything like its original condition.  However, you may be able to dry it off enough so you can finish that juicy book!   If it's an expensive book then you might want to bring it to a professional.

On Friday, we attended the Key Note Address and heard about some of the new policy changes for eBay.  I was enjoying a Starbucks Mocha to keep me awake throughout the address.

My first class was the Seller Tools Panel. Basically it was a Q&A of people whining about their stores and what they can do about it.  I left the class within 5 minutes because it wasn't what I expected.  Instead I found a computer and logged onto my accounts. 

The next class I attended was How to Research Quickly & Effectively by Lynn Dralle.  It was a really good class!  Lynn Dralle is known as the Queen of Auctions,  she emails a weekly ezine that is fabulous!  She shared her secrets on how she researches items before she lists them - I learned many great tips.

Paula and I skipped our third class because we were having fun in the Solutions Center.  I need to visit all the websites of the exhibitors that I feel would be good for my eBay business. 

We left the convention center early to eat at the Thai Spoon, attached to our hotel.  I never had Sushi before so I tried the Salmon Skin Maki.  Oh it was so good!  Until I put the green stuff in my mouth.  I thought it was avocado.  Fire shot through my nose up to my forehead.  My face turned fire engine red.  Paula shouted, "Eat rice, eat rice!"  I shoveled it in my mouth and gulped my water.  Next time, do not eat the green stuff.

When we came out, we noticed there was all these old-time police cars, movie vans and security.  I asked one of the officers what was going on and he told me they were filming a movie starring Johnny Depp. I didn't see him anywhere but I met someone later that I actually spoke to him at their hotel.

After that we went to a wine tasting at the wine store I stopped at earlier in the week.  We tried Saki for the first time.  It reminded me of vodka.  Paula really liked the Saki. 

When we came back to our hotel we noticed that an event was setting up across the street at Grant Park; Chicago Summer Dance.  Swing Dance Lessons were being given on a 4,600-square-foot open air dance floor.  Then at 7:30 the Swing Nouveau band played '30's, 40's and 50's Swing music.  It was so much fun watching all the people dancing.  Paula and I didn't dance - we were too tired from walking all day.  Also, I had an allergic reaction to the salt causing my ankles and feet to swell up like sausages.  It was a real fun day! 

I woke up bright and early to take the FREE shuttle to McCormick Place West eBay Live.  The registration line was a breeze so I had time to buy a Mocha at Starbucks and shop at the bookstore.  I eavesdropped on a conversation between two people standing by books by Jeffrey Gitomer.  They were excited that he was going to speak on Creating Loyal Customers & Repeat Business at 10am.  My plan was to go to a shipping class but I scratched that idea in favor of this class.  This was my favorite class of the whole weekend!  He was funny, entertaining and knowlegeable   Buy his books and sign up for his eZine Sales Caffeine.

My sister, Paula called me while I was in class to let me know she was at the hotel and on her way to the convention center.  (Her eBay ID is paulas_book_emporium).  I skipped my second class so I could meet her at registration and go out to lunch.  The convention food was EXPENSIVE so we went down the street to Burger King. 

The next class I attended was And Your Clicks For Free:  Promoting Yourself Outside of eBay - Seth Godin.   The description of the class stated that he would talk about his website Squidoo as well as other online tools such as blogs and Twitter to help you spread the word about what you do and sell.   Seth reluctantly spent about 2 minutes talking about Squidoo, had one slide on the screen for 30 seconds listing the logos of the different blogs and spent most of his 1-1/2 talking about "finding products for your customers rather than finding customers for your products".  Seth Godin was a good speaker but the class wasn't what I thought it would be. 

We took the shuttle back to our hotel, freshened up and walked to the Art Institute, its free on Thursday nights.  I love paintings!   Auguste Bernard d'Agesci - Lady Reading the Letters of Heloise and Abelard, François Boucher - Are They Thinking About The Grape?,  Claude Monet - Cliff Walk at Pourville, and so many more!

Then we walked down the street to Millenium Park so Paula could frolic in the water at the Crown Fountain.  I took lots of pictures of the brick wall faces spouting water and all the kids (including Paula) playing.  We saw ourselves reflected in Cloud Gate/The Bean.  A great Mediterranean band called Maria Del Mar Bonet played at the Jay Pritzker Pavillion.  Thousands of people were laying on blankets, sitting in the grass or fold-up chairs or leaning against the wall enjoying the wonderful accoustics.  Fabulous! 

After that, we were famished!  So we walked down the street to George Mitchell's Artists Cafe and ate outside on the patio.  Oh My Gosh!  The food was wonderful!   I had Pastitso (Greek Lasagna) - I want their recipe!  After dining on this fabulous food, we went back to the hotel and drank some wine.