Computer has been down. Instead of surfing the net I have been surfing the Encyclopedia!

Do you remember  Encyclopedias? There is a generation out there who has no idea what I am talking about. Encyclopedia (en si klo pe de a), is a book or set of books with alphabetically arranged articles on all branches of knowledge. I can remember when my  Dad bought a set of Collier’s Encyclopedias for our family, it was in the 80’s when I was in high school.  I was so excited to get these books because  I spent so much time  researching in the library and I now I could do my research right from  home. Dad ordered it on a payment plan, which meant we received three books each month. Now that is fine if you are doing a report on Art History or Civil Engineering, but if your Social Studies required you to do a report on South America, by the time SOD-TZU volume 18 came in, it would be summer.  Can you believe I still have the whole collection of Collier’s… I wonder if they are worth any money? I still use them to this day but, not in the way you would think. After I am finished a watercolor painting, I spray a light mist of water on the back of the painting and then lay the encyclopedias down as a weight to flatten the paper and remove any buckling that may have occurred. On a large painting I use the entire 20 volume set….My Dad would be so proud that his hard earned money did not go in vain.  Thank you Collier’s Encyclopedia for the many years of knowledge!

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