11 posts from October 2008

I <3 Cake. :)

In case the embedded vid doesn't work, try this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuwoxWQE2Tw

Note: This is just some random person's video and obviously not the actual Cake band.  But it's done pretty well!

Seriously.

I get so many random people coming up to me asking me random-ass questions that I have to wonder.  In my personal and work life, people ask me about stuff all the time because I either know or am willing to do some research to find out.  That is understandable since they know me and know I'm usually (too) willing to help.

But perfect strangers?  I just don't get it.

On Tuesday, I needed to stop at the store for some essentials (milk, soda, and toilet paper) and non-essentials (hey tri-tip was like 60% off!).  I was in the store for a total of 45 minutes.  I was shopping for maybe 15 of them.  Why?  Two, yes TWO, random never-seen-before-in-my-life strangers needed help with finding items and making shopping decisions.  I suppose I could've just said no and gone on my merry way, but that isn't who I am.

The first person was a woman who needed tortilla chips for some party.  The store is set up all wonky, so unless you know where the chip aisle is hiding (between the freezer and the alcohol sections.... yeah told you it was wonky), you could wander the more reasonable areas and never find the actual chip display.  Before you ask if I looked like a store employee, I was wearing running pants and a white t-shirt pushing a cart full of my groceries.  I had no name tag and was half-asleep on my feet.  Yet she still felt that I would be a better bet than tracking down an actual store employee.

Next, this ....altered man asked for my help in the fresh meat section.  I do have to thank him for the tri-tip, though, so I guess the 30 minutes I spent talking to him wasn't a total bust.  He first wanted to know if I knew where the filet mignons were, and I was able to find a couple filets for him.  Unfortunately, that particular cut is rather spendy, so he balked.  I kept asking what he wanted it for, tried to give him the best cut for his moolah and what would be within his budget.  He didn't want NY strip or rib-eye or... there was "not enough meat" and "that isn't enough to even feed (him)".  I noticed the tri-tip was on sale for $2.99/lb, which is insane, plus it was untrimmed, which meant it would cook into a delicious, moist, and flavorful cut of beef.  I finally pried out of him that he wanted to "show up his ex" and "impress his kids" by giving them an expensive steak.  He kept going back to the gd london broil, even though I told him that it wasn't a very delicious cut.  Anyway, I finally got him out of there with a tri-tip and two london broils (against my many arguments).

Yod says it's because I don't walk around with a scowl on my face.  I still have no idea.

But dammit, Safeway owes me a commission!

While driving, what's your biggest pet peeve?
Submitted by Alexandra

Hmmm this is a tough one.  There are two that drive me batty. 

1. The Roving Roadblock: Cars going about the same speed drive along, blocking all lanes of traffic to that speed.  You think one is about to speed up or slow down so you can get by, but alas, it catches back up to the roadblock.  No matter which lane you choose, you cannot get around.
2. Lazy Turner:  Cars that must slow down to 5mph to turn right, or cars that cannot accelerate past 5mph to turn left. 

I can feel my blood pressure rising just talking about them...

What misconception about the place you live bothers you the most?
Submitted by Jessmiloo

I hate that people say that my area of Sacramento is "conveniently located".  It is in the middle of a freewayless region and getting to the freeway means travelling along congested roads with 40mph speed limits for at least 3 miles of annoying lights, each of which can run as long as 2 minutes.  This is not convenient!!

What one trait do you wish more people around you displayed?
Submitted by Ross

Awareness.

I wish people would be more aware of their surroundings and how they impact those surroundings.  Awareness of their actions and the possible repercussions of those actions.  Awareness of other people in the world, or even just on the same stretch of highway.  I just wish people would open their eyes and become aware of the world outside their own microcosm.

It's Yod Day, part 2!

http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/National...

According to Sesame Street Magazine, October 15th is National Grouch Day -- a day for all Grouches to celebrate their way of life. A Grouch's mission in life is to be as miserable and grouchy as possible, and pass that feeling on to everyone else. ...

Yod the Grouch, Grump, Crank, Crab, Misanthrope, Churl...  the list can go on! Celebrate National Grouch Day today!

Flaming Squirrel Blamed For Redding Wildfire - Sacramento News Story - KCRA Sacramento

http://www.kcra.com/news/17713428/det...

REDDING, Calif. -- With southern California fighting wind-driven flames and spot fires breaking out across northern California, firefighters have fingered at least one arsonist: an unlucky squirrel. Redding firefighters said the squirrel set off the blaze when it shorted out a power line, caught fire and dropped into dry vegetation. Battalion Chief Gerry Gray said it took 18 firefighters and six fire engines to fight the fire that started behind a Redding restaurant. The fire briefly threatened a home before it was contained Monday. Redding Electric Utility spokesman Pat Keener said about 200 customers might have noticed their electricity flicker when the squirrel shorted out the high-voltage power line. But the incident did not cause a power outage.Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

I know that a squirrel lost his life, but c'mon... I just had to laugh.  What a revoltin' development!

psssst... it's I CAN HAS YODBURGER?'s birthday today!!

Sadly, I understand most of this song. 

I'm just too white and nerdy!  ...how'd I get so white and nerdy?

What sound can't you stand?

The sound of people chewing and gulping.  It just takes a little background music to cover the sound, thankfully.  I have to grit my teeth and try to ignore it if there is no music and if I hear the chomping and slurping and lip-smacking of people, it ruins the eating experience. It isn't even the people with no manners... it's people just drinking and eating normally that drives me insane.  I blame all this on my father and have learned how to swallow quietly (so I didn't suffer his wrath).

I've tried to break myself of this issue, but, like most sounds, the more you concentrate on ignoring it, the more you're aware of it, which just makes it that much worse.  Arghhhhhhhhhhh!!