Pondering Office Depot's Expectation Setting

As I mentioned in the earlier post, my Mom and I went to Office Depot in search of laptops. They had quite a few specials we wanted to consider. Well, of course they were all sold out, but what really got me was the fact they had someone up at the front of the store collecting names and phone numbers of those individuals that were interested in getting the $397 HP laptop.

Of course I had to inquire as to what they were doing with the list. And what was I told? "well, we are already sold out, but other stores might have them and we are going to call around to try and get some more."

I about died. Seriously. It really got me that they were taking names. They would not even tell you when or if you would be able to get one. Fortunately I work in retail and consider myself a savvy and educated shopper, but so many people are clueless. They could easily be thinking that because they are on the list they will get one.

I just can't imagine who thought that was a good idea, or who told someone to do that. Go figure.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

A Stuft Turkey

Thanksgiving 2008 has now come and gone. I had a really nice time
visiting with Mom & Dad, but it wasn't the same. I mean seriously,
somehow we missed having macaroni and cheese! If only it was that
easy.

My Dad's mom and his brother Rich came to eat with us, and we
certainly had plenty of food. Mom and I did some trial and error sort
of cooking with the cranberry salad and dressing that Grandma Alston
always made. When it was said and done with though, we got it pretty
close to right and I learned more about how to make the dishes along
the way. I almost lost it one time - right before we ate. I asked
Grandma Johnson to bless the food but she wouldn't. Mom ended up doing
it. I knew I wouldn't be able to do it without crying. Somehow I
managed to hold the tears back. Its amazing how the little things
catch you sometimes. Like in orchestra rehearsal last week - the
strings play a rendition of White Christmas that does not have a wind
part, so we just get to sit back and relax. Its a great break for my
chops, but it lets my mind wander and I was having to do a good acting
job of having something in my eye as I wiped away the tears.

With Christmas only 24 days away now I feel apprehensive about the
holiday and what it will be like this year. Uncle Chuck is suppose to
come visit, so I guess that will be something normal about the
holiday. That is generally the one time a year he makes it our
direction.

Mom and I braved the crowds Friday morning. We had our eyes on laptops
at Office Depot, but of course they were all done. Target was next on
the list. We ran into a friend of ours and stood talking for an hour I
think. But, we did get a bit of shopping done. Fitting everything in
the car on the way home was an interesting trick. I think the
highlight of Friday was French toast sticks at Shoney's. Uber tasty.

Saturday was nothing other than a disappointment in general, it was
rainy and the gamecocks lost. They didn't really even show up to the
play at all. Big bummer there. I really thought we should have won
that game. I was also a little sad about having to hit the road back
to Charlotte. Sitting around and playing Guitar Hero with Mom was much
more fun that returning home to an empty apartment and the promise of
the office bright and early on Monday morning (although today it was
raining still so it was a dreary and wet return to the office). That
evening I met up with a friend downtown to have a few drinks and watch
football, then I went on over to Tiki Beach and hung with Matt, Shawn,
and the rest. It was a good time. Too bad I can't say the same for
Sunday.

I woke up around 9:30 - was sort of milling about and then realized I
didn't really feel too well. I knew I had been drinking on an empty
stomach the night before (wasn't hungry considering I was a "stuft
turkey" from an entire weekend of gorging myself at the parent's
house). 7 hours later and at least 5 trips to the restroom my stomach
finally settled down. Oh, the joys of a day spent in the bed and on
the bathroom floor. Even this morning I still feel a little queasy,
but now it is becoming the battle of hunger vs. being ill. I can't
really differentiate the two. Sunday was made even worse by the fact
that A) I was so cruddy feeling I didn't get to watch much of the
packers game, and B) we lost to the Panthers. Again, I really thought
we should have one that game. From what I did catch of the game it
seemed as if the Packers at least showed up to play, which is more
than the cocks did Saturday. We would have won if Delhome wouldn't
have completed a bomb pass down to Steve smith in the 4th quarter.
DeAngelo Williams did put up a big 38.60 on my fantasy team though.
Can't complain about that. This week's match-up (against my dad) is
already wrapped up. I have 153.54 and he has 132.82. I still have
Andre Johnson and Maurice J-D left to play tonight too. Securely in
second place for the playoff I have a bye next week - and then I just
gotta hope my boys keep it up. Scot is going to be 12-0 going into it
and has scores 1890 pts this season while I only have 1796. Just gotta
keep my fingers crossed.

Well, another lunch break wasted. I've been working on eating Wild
Mushroom Bisque. I think it is going to stay down.

So long for now.

Kitty Khronicles: Week 3/4

Week 3 brought the introduction of the laser pointer. He also started
running "laps" if you will. Every cat I have had has loved laser
pointers, and Sebastian is no different. He gets going up and down the
hall at lightening pace. Separate from the laser pointer though - he
has taken to staring in the laundry room and running the u-shaped
pattern that is the apartment. As he makes the turn through the dining
room he sort of roars/hollers/or something. I must say, it is quite
amusing. He keeps himself very well entertained most of the time. I
love watching him prance around the apartment carrying a toy mouse by
the tail.

I feel a little bad sometimes, because from an everyday perspective I
find myself only telling stories about he attacks me, or jumps up in
my lap while I am drinking a bottle of juice and then it shoots out of
the bottle and gets all over the place. But, really - he is a very
good cat.

In general I can say that Sebastian is doing well, and he survived the
three hour car ride to Florence and back for Thanksgiving. In fact, he
was no trouble at all. He went right into the carrier and slept
peacefully the entire way. Did not make a single peep. :-) While in
Florence he quickly made himself at home and was thoroughly intrigued
by the wire cat toy that my parents have. I think my grandma got it
back when I was in middle school or something and we have had it ever
since. It is nothing more than a wire about 2.5 feet long that has
cardboard rolls at either end and then it is threaded with 5 - 7 more
rolls that move up and down the wire. The tension of the wire really
makes it seem like a bug flying around or something. He loved when we
would hold it and play with it, but he also was perfectly content
playing by himself.

Ahh, and speaking of playing - he played guitar hero with mom too. She
was sitting in the recliner and he kept jumping up and putting his
paws on the guitar, sometimes even working the whammy bar for her - it
was quite amusing.

I was a little worried about how he would adjust to coming back home
after the 4 days in Florence - but it was a breeze. He went right to
the turbo scratcher and then hollered for some food. Sunday was an
interesting day though. I woke up and had some sort of stomach bug
that had me hugging the porcelain throne most of the day. He was
actually quite sweet and just laid on the bed most of the time, not
bothering me. I guess it was about 6:30 when I finally got to the
point I was going to eat something. Coke and saltines seemed like it
was the best bet. Since the crackers were in a plastic sleeve he
wanted to play because of the sound it made - but we got over that
after one swat on the fanny. Then he just kept wanting to sit on my
chest - which made it difficult to eat and drink. I had just put a
cracker in my mouth when he hopped up on my chest again. In mid-chew
and holding the crackers with my lips, trying to tell him to get down,
and then taking both hands to move him - the little bugger stole the
cracker right out of my mouth. I couldn't believe it. Once he got hold
of it there was no me moving him cause he darted away and I heard him
snacking on it down under the bed. Completely blew my mind with that
one. Little thief.

This week I am going to start working on making Christmas cards. That
should be very interesting considering it involved stamping, etc. I
have a feeling he is going to end up with silver ink on him somewhere.
This weekend I am looking forward to how he will react to the
Christmas tree. Should be interesting to say the least. Or, he could
surprise me - who knows.