Category Archives: social

playing the sympathy card

Got it figured after hearing the same spiel from the hotel van driver. The conversation starts like so:

    Driver: Where you from?
    Guest: The state of ______ .

Armed with this knowledge driver starts into team sports dialog, namely school basketball teams. This is genuine conversation starter but it leads to the colleges that his children are attending and how he struggles to pay tuition expenses, works 3 jobs… the violin starts. Can’t help pony up a better tip after such a performance. Clever. Wonder if he has kids for reals.

SLP

San Luis Potosi` is off the beaten path; not the usual tourist stop over. Most of the visitors are managers and executives from GM, Toyota inspecting their component parts manufacturing. Ventured out of the Westin hotel “compound” and into upscale residential just a jog away.

GTD

DMV line behind a young woman sporting a black tattoo the size of a fist on the nape of her neck. A civil servant has come round to generally be helpful making sure that everyone has selected the proper line to stand in. A man has no cash/check only but a Mastercard and gets sent packing. Tattoo is here for an ID. The officer asks leading , “How’d you get here?” and gets an “I drove” response; which began a painful seesaw: If you don’t have a license how’d you drive… and “I have a license!” then “Whatcha need an ID for then…” She couldn’t make up something give a good answer and although he kept drilling he wouldn’t or couldn’t get her to hang herself. I’m not sure of the objective. Harass? Inform? Make an arrest?

Reality Check

bottleopener I guess I’m spoiled by *** and **** Star hotels but it’s slim pickens here in South Dakota. The choices are Super 8, Sleep On Inn and their ilk. Ours features an indoor water park and tiki bar casino attraction. Shown is an hotel amenity; tie wrapped to the desk with fishing line so you don’t have to open your beverage with the furniture

iron stomach

Waiting to see if I turn green – – or not. I’m usually first in the breakfast line. The eggs and biscuits tend to dry overdone if you arrive for a helping after an hour or two or more of simmering. This morning I’m downing my scrambled eggs which are still wet and just the way I like them. They have an exotic flavor of charcoal broil. Ummmm. Unusual, but then again, I’m in Texas so maybe this is how the locals change things up. Having finished and while weighing the second course I hear another patron in the place making noise about the eggs being bad and something about having gone off… The head waiter takes a sample from buffet, makes a face, and within ear shot agrees with the suspicion. I see him take the offending batch back to the kitchen. I sit there pondering my now empty plate.

test drive

[photopress:cayman_s.jpg,full,centered]
The Cayman S is somewhat reminiscent of early 911 with the delightful light responsive handling in front and wonderful mechanical sounds from the rear (mid) engine layout. Not raw or brutish but very civilized, insulated and well balanced. A very fast GT with adequate power that can exceed any posted limits in the time it takes you to glance down and measure. The salesman ‘fessed that he’d been cited. Lucky not to get arrested in this car but dare I say that another 50 horses and more loudness would be perfection. The list price on this gentlemanly ride would buy (new) His ‘n’ Hers S2000 sportcars with change left over for a cruise ship holiday. Double the pleasure.

best of both

I do have some windowz only apps and didn’t want to mess with emulation or be without so I’ve committed sacrilege and installed the Microsoft OS on my new Apple notebook using virtual machine software called Parallels. SMS thinks that I am going to go to hell for doing that :mrgreen:

dawn kitchen patrol

warning: critters were harmed in the making of this post IMG_0573
The exterminator service is sooo fired. Pesky ant varmits are winning the battle. I have found a temporary remedy and one that uses no chemicals or carcinogens. It is not harmful to the environment. Safe for pets. A torn piece of masking tape is quick and clean. Most satisfying, you can yell “Freeze!” or “Die You Gravy Sucking Pigs!” as you stick the sink and counter space.

on a slow boat

Making a visit to the Apple Store, on a Saturday, was a less than ideal choice in timing. The place was wall to wall with customers. Apple has been enjoying a swelling interest in their newly released Mactel machines. Still, what a contrast in presentation compared to the plain ordinary BestBuyCircuitCity drab. A helpful staffer, one of many extra on duty that busy day, approached and responded when asked: Would there be an advantage to buy from their beautiful store as opposed to ordering from Apple’s online website? — “Well… [she formulated her answer] if you buy here you take delivery on the spot and carry it home. [immediate gratification] Otherwise, it’s gotta’ come from CHINA and could take a couple of weeks.” A powerful argument. I had visions of my potential purchase jostling about on some container ship in the salty Pacific. On leaving the store I had already discounted her sales pitch as fantastic NE incredulous and made up my street smart mind to custom spec my new computer as I have always done. What a line: 2 weeks from China… I snickered during dinner table conversation. Realize that the actual assembly does take place in a far away third world but surely they would have them stacked high in some Midwestern distribution facility.

Epilogue:
Imagine my chagrin to receive this order status email with FedEx tracking number:
11:16 AM Left origin SHANGHAI CN

Trust in apple. She spoke the truth. It wasn’t a line. I was a doubter. I’ll never live this down!