12-ish year old girl, after buying an anime book:
That's a cute little receipt!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Saturday, December 26, 2009
true customer tales!
On a positive note, for a change.
There's a girl in the loft, looks like six or seven years old, dancing like crazy to Arcade Fire.
There's a girl in the loft, looks like six or seven years old, dancing like crazy to Arcade Fire.
true customer tales!
Crazy dude carrying an unrolled sleeping bag under one arm staggers up to the counter.
"Will you guys cash a GOVERNMENT CHECK if I buy some books?"
me:
Nope! Sorry.
"Will you guys cash a GOVERNMENT CHECK if I buy some books?"
me:
Nope! Sorry.
true customer tales!
*Loud, annoying cell phone ring that goes on for quite a while*
Guy browsing books, startled: Oh! That's ME!
Guy browsing books, startled: Oh! That's ME!
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Merry Christmas Mosaic
Something for all my peeps.
the rockers
the swingers
the bears
the fans of stop motion animation
and the faux-80's butt rockers
(NSFW? Probably!)
the rockers
the swingers
the bears
the fans of stop motion animation
and the faux-80's butt rockers
(NSFW? Probably!)
Monday, December 21, 2009
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Saturday, December 19, 2009
hey neat
found this sweet pic our new turntable- well, not this exact one, but same model.
(click pic for full size image)
The excitement at Chez Baxblog is palpable!
(click pic for full size image)
The excitement at Chez Baxblog is palpable!
quick vent on health care "reform"
Giving away piles of taxpaper dollars to abusive, rapacious private companies by forcing everyone to buy coverage is a pile of shit.
I haven't seen any meaningful restraints on premiums or bad faith behavior by insurers, other than not allowing them to deny applicants based on preexisting conditions. Which of course doesn't prevent them from kicking folk to the curb later if it turns out they have some sort of expensive problem.
I'm thinking this whole thing is a big anchor being handed to the Dems. The pressure to pass ANYTHING because ANYTHING is better than 'losing' is obviously intense, but they would be well advised to sit back and dispassionately consider the electoral ramifications of forcing people to buy a shitty product offered by companies ruled by the profit motive.
Digby offers a more measured response. This quote resonates strongly:
If this monstrosity isn't vastly more public-friendly by the time they birth it, the Dem national ticket can kiss my ass when voting time comes around.
I haven't seen any meaningful restraints on premiums or bad faith behavior by insurers, other than not allowing them to deny applicants based on preexisting conditions. Which of course doesn't prevent them from kicking folk to the curb later if it turns out they have some sort of expensive problem.
I'm thinking this whole thing is a big anchor being handed to the Dems. The pressure to pass ANYTHING because ANYTHING is better than 'losing' is obviously intense, but they would be well advised to sit back and dispassionately consider the electoral ramifications of forcing people to buy a shitty product offered by companies ruled by the profit motive.
Digby offers a more measured response. This quote resonates strongly:
ROBERT KUTTNER: Think about it, the difference between social insurance and an individual mandate is this. Social insurance everybody pays for it through their taxes, so you don't think of Social Security as a compulsory individual mandate. You think of it as a benefit, as a protection that your government provides. But an individual mandate is an order to you to go out and buy some product from some private profit-making company, that in the case of a lot of moderate income people, you can't afford to buy. And the shell game here is that the affordable policies are either very high deductibles and co-pays, so you can afford the monthly premiums but then when you get sick, you have to pay a small fortune out of pocket before the coverage kicks in. Or if the coverage is decent, the premiums are unaffordable. And so here's the government doing the bidding of the private industry coercing people to buy profit-making products that maybe they can't afford and they call it health reform.
If this monstrosity isn't vastly more public-friendly by the time they birth it, the Dem national ticket can kiss my ass when voting time comes around.
Friday, December 18, 2009
oh yeah
Just fielded a call from the Audio Doctor, who complimented the turntable's suave manner and good looks and will be operating this weekend for a Monday pickup.
Nothing combats winter's chill like the Warmth of Vinyl(tm)!
Nothing combats winter's chill like the Warmth of Vinyl(tm)!
general update
Finally found the camera, the day after we started halfheartedly browsing around for a new one.
Brought home the new speakers and had a fabulous buying experience at Audio Ecstasy. It was the polar opposite of my nightmarish descent into the shark tank of the Apple store. where schools of ravenous youngsters in Apple motley circled and circled, preternaturally alert for the scent of customers in the water.
The two audio geeks manning the counter were more interested in talking shop than maneuvering me into an equipment upgrade. "Those are great speakers for the size", opined the tall one who had a more than passing physical & sartorial resemblance to the Gyro Captain from the Road Warrior. "Yeah," chimed in his friend, "the only ones that are better run $2,000." Instead of trying to push any of the expensive connection options in the glass case, they cut me off 20' of speaker wire from the back room for free.
It was far from the sort of hyper-efficient behavior smiled on by our consumer culture, which demands that the wallet of every customer unlucky enough to cross your threshold be flensed of every surplus shekel, but it is the sort of buying experience that appeals to misanthropic iconoclasts like myself.
We need a wall mount for the TV, a sale they just made by not forcing the issue. And I'll be picking up a few of those expensive connectors on my next visit. And when the time comes for speaker stands, I know where to go.
The turntable still isn't ready- apparently the Audio Doctor runs on analog time. As long as we've got it by Christmas, I won't kick. The longer he takes, the bigger the stack of new vinyl we'll have to feed it.
Brought home the new speakers and had a fabulous buying experience at Audio Ecstasy. It was the polar opposite of my nightmarish descent into the shark tank of the Apple store. where schools of ravenous youngsters in Apple motley circled and circled, preternaturally alert for the scent of customers in the water.
The two audio geeks manning the counter were more interested in talking shop than maneuvering me into an equipment upgrade. "Those are great speakers for the size", opined the tall one who had a more than passing physical & sartorial resemblance to the Gyro Captain from the Road Warrior. "Yeah," chimed in his friend, "the only ones that are better run $2,000." Instead of trying to push any of the expensive connection options in the glass case, they cut me off 20' of speaker wire from the back room for free.
It was far from the sort of hyper-efficient behavior smiled on by our consumer culture, which demands that the wallet of every customer unlucky enough to cross your threshold be flensed of every surplus shekel, but it is the sort of buying experience that appeals to misanthropic iconoclasts like myself.
We need a wall mount for the TV, a sale they just made by not forcing the issue. And I'll be picking up a few of those expensive connectors on my next visit. And when the time comes for speaker stands, I know where to go.
The turntable still isn't ready- apparently the Audio Doctor runs on analog time. As long as we've got it by Christmas, I won't kick. The longer he takes, the bigger the stack of new vinyl we'll have to feed it.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
it's beginning to look a lot like vinyl....
Took the turntable & new cartridge in to the Audio Doctor with instructions to make it like new. Thirty nine bucks down for a 'diagnostic fee', which he says should cover it, barring unforeseen disasters.
And what's there to do after you get the turntable lined up but hit Boo Boos for some vinyl?
Picked up Peter Gabriel's third & Innervisions used, Spoon, Elliott Smith & Brightblack Morning Light new. Miko recommended The New Possiblity by John Fahey for seasonal flava, and I never turn down a music rec from The Grandmaster.
I've also got our new speakers picked out. A logarithmic improvement over the decade old junkers we've been using at a price that won't break the budget, even with stands!
Exciting, exciting...
And what's there to do after you get the turntable lined up but hit Boo Boos for some vinyl?
Picked up Peter Gabriel's third & Innervisions used, Spoon, Elliott Smith & Brightblack Morning Light new. Miko recommended The New Possiblity by John Fahey for seasonal flava, and I never turn down a music rec from The Grandmaster.
I've also got our new speakers picked out. A logarithmic improvement over the decade old junkers we've been using at a price that won't break the budget, even with stands!
Exciting, exciting...
shifting realities
It's sorta sad how exciting it was to drink a couple of glasses of wine with dinner last night and stay up until midnight(!) after the wife offered to wrangle Fuss in the morning.
I got to sleep in until NINE!
Right as Meggsie was heading downstairs and we were going in to bed Fuss wandered down the hall, blinking and grinning beneath his mussed golden halo. Getting him back to sleep is always a challenge, but his overwhelming adorableness in those late night moments justifies the effort.
We finally got the stupid loan, after more than a year of ceaseless & constantly mutating battle with the powers that be. And by "we" I mean "the wife", who pursued it with bulldog tenacity and boundless optimism.
Our first official act was a family outing to the outlets resulting in a trunk full of winter duds for the Fuss. We haven't spent anything on clothes so far thanks to generous donations, but we're reaching the bottom of the pile and he needed more long sleeved shirts, sweaters & warm pants.
Carters is easy to resist, Oshkosh is dangerous but manageable if you keep your guard up and maintain focus, but Gymboree is the devil in strip mall guise.
I got to sleep in until NINE!
Right as Meggsie was heading downstairs and we were going in to bed Fuss wandered down the hall, blinking and grinning beneath his mussed golden halo. Getting him back to sleep is always a challenge, but his overwhelming adorableness in those late night moments justifies the effort.
We finally got the stupid loan, after more than a year of ceaseless & constantly mutating battle with the powers that be. And by "we" I mean "the wife", who pursued it with bulldog tenacity and boundless optimism.
Our first official act was a family outing to the outlets resulting in a trunk full of winter duds for the Fuss. We haven't spent anything on clothes so far thanks to generous donations, but we're reaching the bottom of the pile and he needed more long sleeved shirts, sweaters & warm pants.
Carters is easy to resist, Oshkosh is dangerous but manageable if you keep your guard up and maintain focus, but Gymboree is the devil in strip mall guise.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
true customer tales
gal, waving a biography of Sammy Davis Jr in my face: This would be good for a little kid, right?
me, in full retail salesperson mode: YOU BET!
Chalk up 4 bucks for the good guys!
me, in full retail salesperson mode: YOU BET!
Chalk up 4 bucks for the good guys!
Foodweek
The abscess may have thrown off my Tday plans, but I have managed to make some culinary hay over the last week or so.
The big winner was the Potato Leek Soup from Bittman's How to Cook Everything. Dirt simple and really delicious. I threw in half a cup of cream at the end and worked it over a little with the immersion blender, the result was about halfway between rustic & pureed. Next time I'm doing a double batch, the cup or so that was leftover tasted epic after resting in the fridge for a few days.
The other winner, which occasioned my first documented moment of culinary satori, was a simple chicken with roasted vegetables from Cook's Illustrated. I made a batch as directed (dice the veg, roast 15 minutes, top with chicken brushed with melted butter, roast another 30 or so minutes) and it was tasty enough, but I was a bit underwhelmed by the vegetables.
We've been watching the first couple of seasons of The F Word (thank you Netflix!) and a tiny Gordon Ramsey appeared on my shoulder, urging me to "brown the fucking things in a skillet before roasting, yes? Stop cooking like a twat!"
The next night I made a modified half batch, sauteing the mushrooms & potatoes until nicely browned before laying on the chicken and roasting them as directed.
MUCH better.
Slightly more work (one extra pan to clean, a bit more attention required), but a tremendous boost in flavor.
And last night we had a round of Cowgirl Creamery's Pierce Pt seasonal with a crusty loaf- heavenly. I'm still debating which of their 'gift' packs to pick up for our Christmas feast...
The big winner was the Potato Leek Soup from Bittman's How to Cook Everything. Dirt simple and really delicious. I threw in half a cup of cream at the end and worked it over a little with the immersion blender, the result was about halfway between rustic & pureed. Next time I'm doing a double batch, the cup or so that was leftover tasted epic after resting in the fridge for a few days.
The other winner, which occasioned my first documented moment of culinary satori, was a simple chicken with roasted vegetables from Cook's Illustrated. I made a batch as directed (dice the veg, roast 15 minutes, top with chicken brushed with melted butter, roast another 30 or so minutes) and it was tasty enough, but I was a bit underwhelmed by the vegetables.
We've been watching the first couple of seasons of The F Word (thank you Netflix!) and a tiny Gordon Ramsey appeared on my shoulder, urging me to "brown the fucking things in a skillet before roasting, yes? Stop cooking like a twat!"
The next night I made a modified half batch, sauteing the mushrooms & potatoes until nicely browned before laying on the chicken and roasting them as directed.
MUCH better.
Slightly more work (one extra pan to clean, a bit more attention required), but a tremendous boost in flavor.
And last night we had a round of Cowgirl Creamery's Pierce Pt seasonal with a crusty loaf- heavenly. I'm still debating which of their 'gift' packs to pick up for our Christmas feast...
Sunday, December 6, 2009
true customer tales
gal, describing an art book to her friend:
Originally I thought this was totally lame...but then, I was all this is completely awesome!
Originally I thought this was totally lame...but then, I was all this is completely awesome!
Saturday, December 5, 2009
fussdate
So this morning Fuss snuck out of bed ("sneaking" = forgoing his traditional morning greetings of hitting me in the face with a book or sitting on my head and bouncing). When I did awake he was standing by the end table, staring at me with a mouth full of...something, looking like a mischievous chipmunk.
"Urkg!" I grunted, blinking and clutching at him like a drunken aunt after a 5th of bourbon. It took a few swipes to get purchase, and some digging to extract a handful of brown nuggets followed by a quantity of black drool down the front of his sleeper.
I've always kept the habit of talking to him like a functioning adult, so I brandished my find at him and demanded "what did you eat?"
For the first time ever, I got an answer.
"Peanuts!" he declared.
!!!
A forensic investigation of the living room revealed their true identity- hazelnuts from a bar of chocolate.
But I won't dock a 16 month old for confusing the two.
"Urkg!" I grunted, blinking and clutching at him like a drunken aunt after a 5th of bourbon. It took a few swipes to get purchase, and some digging to extract a handful of brown nuggets followed by a quantity of black drool down the front of his sleeper.
I've always kept the habit of talking to him like a functioning adult, so I brandished my find at him and demanded "what did you eat?"
For the first time ever, I got an answer.
"Peanuts!" he declared.
!!!
A forensic investigation of the living room revealed their true identity- hazelnuts from a bar of chocolate.
But I won't dock a 16 month old for confusing the two.
Uh, yeah
I'm finally back from what we laughingly dubbed my TOOTH-CATION.
It was a bit like a vacation, but instead of relaxing poolside with a tray of umbrella drinks near at hand you mostly just lie in bed writhing in pain, cursing the fact that every dentist in the county heads to Lake Tahoe for a long Thanksgiving weekend. Silver lining? Rapid weight loss!
The final toll was two visits to Medstop (the second of which inspired the previously affect-free receptionist to gasp and ask if I could breathe and the jocular doctor to note that my appearance was "verging on the grotesque",) a handful of pills three times a day, a Monday tooth extraction by the dentist who caught the earliest flight back from Tahoe, and a Friday follow up delivering a mixed payload. While the ex-tooth was healing nicely, a Dentisterial flyover of my remaining oral landscape revealed approximately two thousand dollars worth of future trouble.
The adventures of the past week neuter the prospect of ignoring this expensive prognosis. On the plus side, the dentists office offers their own low interest credit card!
It was a bit like a vacation, but instead of relaxing poolside with a tray of umbrella drinks near at hand you mostly just lie in bed writhing in pain, cursing the fact that every dentist in the county heads to Lake Tahoe for a long Thanksgiving weekend. Silver lining? Rapid weight loss!
The final toll was two visits to Medstop (the second of which inspired the previously affect-free receptionist to gasp and ask if I could breathe and the jocular doctor to note that my appearance was "verging on the grotesque",) a handful of pills three times a day, a Monday tooth extraction by the dentist who caught the earliest flight back from Tahoe, and a Friday follow up delivering a mixed payload. While the ex-tooth was healing nicely, a Dentisterial flyover of my remaining oral landscape revealed approximately two thousand dollars worth of future trouble.
The adventures of the past week neuter the prospect of ignoring this expensive prognosis. On the plus side, the dentists office offers their own low interest credit card!
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