Contemporary Inanity

Don't judge me!

I heard that phrase at least three times this weekend.  Although it's refreshing that some people actually value my opinion, these particular people must not know me very well.  I'm not very judgmental (is that a flaw?  It might be), and it makes me laugh that people think that I am.

Bottom line, I guess -- if you have to tell someone that you don't wish to be judged, you probably are in over your head.

Hiatus

I've been on a little break.  I have way much work to do, which sounds stupid for a bartender, but my job description is bartender + whatever = nominal income.  My troubles can fade into the background, though.
 
The price of oil is about $131.00 a barrel.  In the frozen North, that translates to $3.85 per gallon.  To fill a 20 gallon tank, it's $77!  I'm really glad I don't drive.

Our summer of our discontent is having a big effect, though.  This is uncharted territory for all of us!  People are both apprehensive and anxious about the rise in oil.  Pizza delivery guys can't make any money.  There are vacation resorts all over the Northern climes that will be feeling the pinch.  A double whammy has descended upon us: Rising energy prices + rising food prices = total screwage.

What to do?  I assume no one can follow in my footsteps and eschew a car, walk to work and bus or cab it elsewhere.  Unfortunately, since the 70's, no one has been willing to sacrifice convenience for energy savings.  What our current president should have done is call on citizens to figure out ways to use less gasoline; unfortunately, self-sacrifice isn't a Republican trait. 

Here's a little help.  Take a bus to work once a week.  Walk, if you can.  Ride a bike.  Try to do everything   you do without firing up an engine.

Here's the thing: if you drive a Suburban and bitch about the price of gas -- if you live 50 miles from your  workplace and bitch about the price of gas -- don't expect a lot of sympathy from me.     

Is Judd Apatow in town?

Because I swear that the cast of "Knocked Up II" was at the bar tonight.

Quick post

I was without internet access for a week, even though I was in a house with working wi-fi.  Brutal.

Much to post about later, though, when I have more time.

Travel

I'm heading to a vacation right now and am writing this during a long layover.  Luckily, this airport has free wi-fi, so I can make like an idiot and fool around on my laptop.  I don't like flying much, but if one wants to escape the nasty weather of the north for balmy ocean views, what else is one to do?  A 36+ hour drive each way doesn't exactly sound like a whole lot of fun either.

I do enjoy the people-watching, though.  About 6-8 people are chattering about god knows what on their phones right now, someone's picking his nose, a little girl is playing with her sister's stroller while her mom negotiates with the gate agent -- it's fun!  A drawback: I've seen far, far too many Cubs T-Shirts and hats.  What is with these people?  Do they not realize that that club hasn't been in the World Series since Paul Tibbets entered the history books?

I don't know if this trip is well deserved, but it's definitely a relief.  I could almost feel the cares of the world melt away as I flew my first leg.  I can hardly wait to arrive at my destination.  I'll be right across the street from a cemetery, but that's okay.  I need all the friends I can find.

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Here's a really funny bit that you might have to be a little off to appreciate.  It's a New York Times interactive feature on the fold-ins on the inside back cover of Mad magazine.  Enjoy!

Baseball's Back!

The Red Sox and Athletics split in Tokyo Tuesday and Wednesday, the Braves and Nats christen the new D. C. ballpark tonight and everyone else gets started Monday.  About time! 

Of course, we're looking at a forecast of snow tonight and tomorrow, but I've got plans to counter that dismal way to start April.  End of the road, here I come!

A Minor Frustration

I went three flights down to my basement yesterday to attempt to cut into the mounds of laundry gathering in my place (think moguls on a ski hill) but when I got to the laundry room, there was a bad sight.  The dryer vent was unhooked.  As Charlie Brown would say, "Aaugh!"

Well, I absolutely had to do some laundry -- I had no clean underwear, socks or work clothes.  I packed a bag full of two loads of stuff and schlepped it down to the laundromat.  I didn't have to start work until 9 last night, so I had plenty of time to bore myself to death. 

There was a plus side, though.  I got to see "Dancing With the Stars" for the first time.  Oh, wait.  That's only a plus if you consider wanting to claw my eyes out with my bare hands a good thing.  I guess I just do not understand life in this brave new world of reality shows.

When will it end?

I'm looking out my back window and watching the snow fly.  There is a streetlight by the lake that is illuminated at 12:30 PM.  There are a couple of ladybugs (or ladybug-like creatures) crawling around my window panes.  My place is a mess and I have approximately 17 loads of laundry to do.  I have a solid gross of NCAA bracket sheets to attack.  Work tonight is likely to be crazy busy, judging from the way this week has gone.  I'm woefully behind in my prep for my fantasy baseball auction. 

Ugh.

Spring, when will you arrive to break Winter's icy grip?

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I think that it might have been appropriate that my Pandora station was playing Bob Dylan's "Workingman's Blues" while I was writing this.  True story.

The most misleading advertisments on the air

Have you seen the Visa ads in which everyone is marching in lockstep or dancing around some cafeteria. with melodious, rhythmic music playing?  The ones where everyone is swiping their debit cards and everyone (including the merchants) are laughing and smiling?  Then, of course, comes the schlub who has the temerity to use cash, and all the clock-work capitalism comes crashing to a halt.

I call BS.

I know that people are loathe to carry cash.  I know it's more convenient for guests to use a credit or debit card.  I know that many, if not most, people have direct deposit, which makes using debit cards even easier.  But don't try to sell me that the merchants are happy about this development, because I guarantee you they are not.  Not by a long shot.  It doesn't make things go faster, believe me.

I know that the "customer is always right", and, trust me, I live by that truism, except when the customer is so egregiously wrong that it has to be pointed out.  But I also know that "cash is king", and every single merchant in this world would rather take cash than debit cards.  That's because of transaction costs, mostly, BTW, which aren't the point of this rant.

Last night, a group of four people, two women and two men, came into the joint at about 11:00 or so.  We were busy, maybe a little busier than a normal Tuesday.  We have a very good happy hour -- two dollar drinks are the reason why people like to come in.  Each of the women had one drink; each of the men had two.  When they asked for their tab, they handed me three cards and two dollars. 

Really?  You don't even have five dollars on you?  Besides that, it's a twelve dollar tab.  Can't one of you (oh, I don't know, maybe one of the guys) say "That's okay, I'll buy."  It's twelve dollars! 

Next time you go out and are tempted to complain about bad service and then use a debit card for one or two drinks, just remember that you are part of the reason why the bartender doesn't have enough time to wait on people.      

College Basketball fans

Here's something you should read.

Man, if I could figure out how to embed that widget on this page, I'd do it in no time.