Friends of friends---and things that go bump in the night

(here is a pic of Midge taken at a recent gathering of he SOCDS -----)

Having mentioned my experience with self checkout---I received a couple comments about others experiences , likes and dislikes about supermarkets. I would be amiss if I didn't confess that one of my regular coffee mates at the SOCDS meetings, is Midge LeBelle. Midge was a career supermarket checker---and the stories SHE could tell---about the coupon queens, those trying to beat the food stamp program etc, etc, etc. Trust me, looking at things from the Checker's side of the counter explains a lot--------oooh by the way Midge LeBelle is her MARRIED name---her husband is ----Gene LeBelle----"THE GENE LEBELLE". popularly known as "Judo Gene", ----also billed as "The toughest Man in the WORLD". (google the name Gene Lebelle and get all the facts)---anyway I mention all this as I will be having coffee with Midge in the morning and getting an update how things went in Las Vegas, where Gene had been flown in to judge a "no holds barred" wrestling/boxing match----------the Man is the man, a great guy to meet---but you don't want to make him mad at ya---hell just ask Steven Segal-----(I can't TELL you that story----but ask any stunt men in the industry---they KNOW"

Old Twain versus Young Twain

I have to assume the bulk of my readers are familiar with the expression , "East is East, and West is West and Twain's never meet?", well sometimes they come close, and it makes for an interesting moment.---take today for example---"Old dude ", (that's me), goes shopping at his local supermarket. I KNOW the market is in the midst of recreating itself and as the days go by with each subsequent visit I see the new store emerging from the chaos. Today's list of vittles was not overwhelming, six pack of beer, a four pack of Charmin's, a dozen eggs, (brown, free range), a bag of frozen beef ravioli, a pound of hamburger (less than 10% fat), butter (original "I can't believe its not butter" brand), a container of shower soap, (Irish Spring liquid gel), some paper towels, chicken breast fillets,---anyway, I get want I went for, and push my cart to the new checkout stands---and voila, find that my supermarket now offers self checkout---OKAY!! (one of my major gripes has been having to stand in line waiting for somebody to take my money)---so naturally I had to give it a shot. like hello, been familiar with Bar coding for what maybe 25-30 years, watch it go from a military thing to a commercial technology---should be no problem.



With great confidence I give the attendant hovering around to answer questions to newbies with the system, a confident smile and wheel up to the check out station and boldly and confidently swipe my Ralph's card and get acknowledged by the machine. which then proceeds to announce verbally, so anyone within 20 feet can hear, "scan first item and put it into the bag". Not quite ready for that, but I grab an item from my cart, fumble around with it to find the required bar code needing to be scanned. I wasn't fast enough and the machine embarrassingly loud announces again , "SCAN ITEM AND PUT IT IN THE BAG" (I am sure at this point others in the store are now turning to look and see what is causing a problem, most definitely the young attendant, that gives me the look young kids give old people, when dealing with old people who just don't know diddly, or that's how THEY see it)



Basically I am a nice guy, easy going, laid back---but damn I get attitude, especially from kids barely outta the acne stage, and hello---the attendant gives ME that look----I have to decide if I am just going to be cranky, or take it all the way to Nuclear---in any any case, there is no way I am gonna let this cherub win the day, and from MY point of view HE started it with giving me that look----(hey just defending myself officer)

Clerk, that smirk if not on his face still reflected in his eyes and body language, clicks his master control and in a sneer tells me to proceed, I scan a couple more items, being bulky they fill the bag, but before I can open another bag, the machine loudly screams for "Attendant required, , Attendant Required"---and of course I get the same punk attendant. Not about to give him any satisfaction before he can speak, "Your machine here doesn't allow sufficient time for a shopper to open a new back to put their purchases in it seems?" The Kid, somewhat confused now, not use to an OLD Dude" questioning HIM about new digital stuff, scowls mumbles something about the machine not suppose to do that---he again clears the machine of its hangup, and I proceed to scan another item and even before I can put it in the bag does it screaming thing, calling for an attendant, I now give the kid the classic "Jack Benny, Well??" look---you know the one, (the one that pretty much tells the kid his machine and system is not infallible look, which he of course is totally unable to excuse or explain) I am cool, I don't raise my fists to the sky, and do that little victory dance one does when life is good)

I finish scanning, pay the bill, and unable to stop myself had to go for the final kill--. I give him a nice little smile and comment, " This could well work if the system incorporates the new paperless coupon system that Ralphes has, ---won't need attendants here at all", I exit the store a half grin on my face---score "old dude" 1---young kid 0---turns out the experience wasn't all that bad after all

Old Dude Needs New Trick

I find myself drifting around in the blogosphere, admiring all them wild and professional kept blogs, and have come to notice that some bloggers list their earlier posts under categories, and guess what this old dude wants to know is----how they do that? Whats the trick to that trick? Kinda suspect it has something to do with tags, or labels and awww jeez haven't quite figured out all that---" things that go bump in the night" stuff ----yet. Anyway---- somebody wanna try to teach this old dude the trick of cross referencing my blog posts under categories?

Blog Central

Being a relative newcomer to blogging , am learning new stuff everyday here. Meeting new people, making new friends and contacts. I am never really sure just what I should post about, so a lot of what ya see here is strictly off the top of the old dude's head hear. Some posts however are in response to either questions that come my way, or responses required to reply to Meme's or flat out personal challenges.
This particular post is just that---its my response to accepting the challenge made by the author of the blog "Life Is Good"----and posting a pic of my Lil cubby hole where I create my blogging posts. As you can see its a typical male, cluttered, not neat area----but hey its comfortable and works for me. The picture on the wall, in case you were wondering, is a painting of one of the Ladies in Waiting of the Queen of Hawaii's court, they were verry into Victorian dress style .

You Like me , you REALLY LIKE ME

I want to thank all those that responded to my request about giving me a review, and all the kind words of encouragement. I can only say that I will endeavor to do my best to meet your expectations. I especially wish to thank Rose DesRochers for awarding me a "Shannon", (for those that are new to blogging the Shannon award is given out periodically to bloggers for their body of posts ---and is basically an award, giving them an "E" for excellence.

I would be totally remiss if I didn't also thank Judi, who introduced me to Blog, (thanks Judi, and I MEAN IT), and to Missy, who in her blog is a steady source of upbeat attitude, Mrmacrum for his down to earth witty takes on life, Wendy , who I didn't know was part of my family, til she was kind enough to step forward and comment on my first initial blog post, and I also want to thank Dana,who by her own wild posts on her blog, kind of inspires this old dude to keep on blogging. OOH ooh, and I must not forget Sue-----who always makes me smile with her posts and comments.--

OOOOH NOOOOO!!!, they are taking the microphone away ----thank you, thank you , thank you everyone (and thanks to Sally Fields who made the original "you like me you really like me" speech when accepting her Oscar.