Topher Cyll

Oh my god, it's almost September. How'd that happen? My parents arrive this Tuesday for a week long visit. It'll be great to see them. Because I ended up cancelling my trip to graduation, it's been a much longer strech then we planned. But I'm taking time off and we're just going to catch up.

For this reason, I have spent much of today doing laundry. The standard load of clothes, plus the periodic loads of laundry and towels, combined with the extra loads of guest sheets and towels threatened to near overwhelm me. I guess vacuuming is next. =)

I've been reading a lot of Aaron Cometbus lately. While Anna was here, I finished Jailbird, which means I think I've read ever book by Kurt Vonnegut (with the exception described in an earlier post). Imagine my stunned amazement, when I found a brand new hardcover in Powell's yesterday. That lying bastard wasn't done writing after all, and I love him for it. Against all odds, I decided not to buy it then and there. Hardcovers are just too luggable. I'll wait for the paperback and despite my earlier words, I'll delay gratification. Burning through the last Vonnegut book left is one thing, but doing it two times in one week would be crazy.

Also, this evening I discovered a way to break those annoying machines in the self-checkout line in the super market. First, insert two dimes on top of each other. Then continue to shovel change down the slot. Ooops.

Now I'm not suggesting you should go out and break these things on purpose... but it had occured to me. =) I resent the machines for making me check my own groceries out. Of course, in some ways, they're a great idea. I mean, I'm still grumpy that it's illegal for me to pump my own gas in Oregon. Why should I pay more for some clerk to do work I'm capable of? The problem is that I don't really believe I'm seeing the savings passed onto me the consumer. If Fred Mayer wanted to reassure me, what they should do is give an explicit discount for using the machines instead of a standard check out line. I bet people would flock, and in no time we'd all be checking out our own groceries.

Sometimes you have to grow into bands. You hear them first and for whatever reason maybe you don't hit it off right away. For example, I've had The Rapture for several years now, and even though I liked them from the beginning, I never really submerged myself in their work. Now I'm loving it.

posted on: 08/28/2005 | path: /life