Category: Misc

People Helping People

Who else gets mistaken for employees in retail establishments or is frequently asked by fellow patrons for assistance?

I know not to wear red garments when going to Target, and anyone who wore a blue chambray shirt and khakis in the ’90s* could have been mistaken for a Blockbuster employee.

Tonight at Longs, I helped a young girl pick out just the right microwave popcorn and a woman select a glittery hair clip for a friend’s 11-year-old daughter’s birthday. I was approached by each of these people — maybe they admired my taste in diet soda (all Coca Cola products are five 12-packs for $12, plus CRV; no coupon required) and laundry detergent, so they trusted my judgment to make consumer decisions for them. I truly felt like a Maven in Malcolm Gladwell’s eyes.

Does this happen to anyone else on a regular basis?

*Note the proper position of the apostrophe. The apostrophe indicates where I left off something that was already there, namely “19.” The incorrect way would have been to write it as “90’s.” For more information please refer to Grammar Girl’s guide to dates. As you were.

What, me feel responsible?

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from News10 story

Parents down in Elk Grove must be so relieved that nothing tragic happened this week when a fourth-grader brought a loaded gun to Charles Mack Elementary School. Some parents in particular, like the parents of Devon and Donovan Smith (pictured at right) who apparently “held bullets” for the kid with the gun.

“They were wrong for not telling anybody” the boys’ mother, Tabatha Weitnauer, says, before going ahead and bringing up that the boys have been diagnosed with ADHD. Perhaps they were also wrong for carrying ammunition to their elementary school. Not to be outdone, the father of the boy who brought the gun released a zinger of a written statement…

Continue reading “What, me feel responsible?”

“Next” Sunday vs. “This” Sunday

In my previous post, I noted “next” Sunday as the one that will fall on March 16.

To me, the Sunday that will fall on March 9 is “this coming Sunday.” The one that was on March 2 was “this past Sunday.”

The whole “this” vs. “next” thing was possibly the biggest argument between my parents when I was growing up (other than the whole exchange of “Hold the tree straight!” “I AM holding the tree straight” when trying to put the Christmas tree in its stand.)

What say you on the whole “next” vs. “this” when referencing upcoming dates or days gone by?

Morning conversation

Actual conversation I had this morning while waiting for a bus by the Downtown Plaza:

SCENE: Downtown plaza. COOLDMZ, casually dressed and devestatingly handsome, is approached by normal seeming early 20s YOUNG MAN.

YOUNG MAN: (Looking at the cloudless sky) Beautiful day.
COOLDMZ: Yeah… Bit chilly, but nice. It’s going to be in the 60s today.
YOUNG MAN: Yeah, it’s nice. (Beat.) So, what do you think of this North American Union they’re gonna do?
COOLDMZ: The what now?
Continue reading “Morning conversation”

“Paging George Oscar Bluth”

“GOB, please report to the security desk.”

Bob Shallit reports in today’s business section of The Bee that the Arden Fair Mall security team members are now using Segway (nee “Ginger”) scooters to monitor the goings-on, both inside and outside of the mall.  If only they had these back in ’06.

No word yet on if each scooter will play a continuous loop of this Segway anthem.

Raze the roof

The building formerly known as Carlos Murphy’s/Bleachers/Asian Buffet/European Buffet Featuring Sushi and Waffles is now gone.

I noticed that it had been knocked down last week, and in its place is a pile of rubble surrounded by a chain link fence.

This is the place that was across from Cal Expo and across from the relatively new (though still with as asinine of a parking lot as the older locations) Kaiser building.

Just thought you should know, and I hope this isn’t where Radio Matthew was planning on going for his 21st birthday.

Storm Watch ’08

Do we believe the weather prognosticators that these incoming storms will be of Biblical proportions?

I, for one, am not taking chances.

I’m about to go top off my gas tank so I won’t have to stand outside at a gas station at any point in the next few days. I’m also about to go take down the Christmas lights now so they’re not knocked off by Mother Nature and so they’re not up for several more days (I realize some will say we’re OK ’til Epiphany for leaving them up.)

What are your storm plans?

Announcement: Check your user account

Hi all, happy 2008!

I was doing some spring cleaning just now deleting registered accounts that looked like spam. In case I was too aggro in my cleaning go ahead and check your account now and if it doesn’t work, please create a new one.

If you haven’t already registered, do it today! There are big things coming up in 2008 for registered users… Don’t be left out!

Prediction for 2008: TRAFFIC

Beginning in the spring of 2008, motorists using Interstate 5 through downtown Sacramento can expect traffic controls and congestion while the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) replaces pavement, improves drainage and installs new wells to keep the river water out between L & S Streets.

I would say that keeping river water out is a good thing- Continue reading “Prediction for 2008: TRAFFIC”