A friend of mine came up from the Detroit area last weekend to watch some football, grill up a couple steaks and just hang out. While here we started talking about the things we used to do when we were kids. This friend is someone that I was pretty close to while young yet life, as it often does, separated us and we’ve just recently reunited in the last few years.
While talking to him I mentioned that I had recently started corresponding with a number of people we knew as kids from school. I started mentioning names and we would discuss whatever memories we had of them. We started discussing all kinds of folks. Some that we were very close to, and others, that were kind of on the fringe of the little circle that we all kind of get lumped into throughout our lives.
During this little game of “remember so and so” I noticed that I would mention things that my friend would only have a slight memory of. I took that to mean that he just couldn’t remember the things we took part in. I mentioned this to him and he said I remembered these things because I was “pretty popular” in school. That’s the last thing I ever thought I’d hear about me in my youth.
I’ve mentioned before about how alone I always felt not only in my youth but throughout my life. To think I was one of the popular kids in school is something that I find really hard to put my arms around. I mean, my social life has never really varied over the years; I spent my time in high school either working or staying home and watching television. I couldn’t possibly count the Friday and Saturday nights I spent home alone in my house in Oak Park. Popular kids don’t do that.
I would sit there watching “Carol Burnett” almost every Saturday. Sometimes a friend would be there but most times it was a solitary party. I didn’t go to many parties back then and the ones I did attend would find me off in a corner, watching people getting drunk or viewing the inevitable fight that would break out. I always tried to place myself right on the edge of any circle that would form. I never allowed myself to get too close to any of the action. I always had this feeling that I’d be found out if I did.
Found out? What was I afraid to show? That’s easy. I was very concerned that if any of these people got to know me very well then they would inevitably find all the faults that I worked so hard to cover up about myself. Whether or not these faults were real has nothing to do with any of this. I perceived them and that’s all one needs to believe in their reality.
My problem is that I never really got rid of the feeling of having to stay on the outskirts. I’m working on putting the two realities together just to help myself understand myself some more. I’m surely not the only person who saw themselves as little more than a fringe player in the shaping of their own lives. Don’t misunderstand what I just said. Nobody put these feelings of inadequacy in my head but me. Why I put them there, I don’t know, could be a million reasons. This revisiting the past is truly a learning experience. I feel like there’s so much work I could do there. So far I like what I’m finding about me way back then. I think I’ll stay awhile.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
One Step Up And Two Steps Back
Ok, step one is complete. We have elected a Democrat to the highest office in the land. My side won but that alone isn’t enough. I have a concern about the direction the country is heading simply by looking at some of the ballot initiatives voted on in each state.
First, I’d like to congratulate the state of Michigan. Voting yes on both the medical marijuana and stem cell bills is something to be quite proud of. On the other hand there were three or four states that had a measure to ban gay marriage on their ballots and all of them passed. Arkansas passed a bill to ban gay couples from adopting children.
On the one hand it would seem we’ve made tremendous strides. The idea of electing a black man is something I think most of us can admit we never thought we’d see in our lifetimes. Kudos goes out to the entire nation for breaking through this long-standing barrier to progression.
On the other hand, the majority of the people that voted in the states of Arizona, California, Arkansas and Florida still feel the need to deny citizens rights that, to me at least, seem as basic as they get. I’m quite sure that if asked, most of those that voted against these bills would give some sort of biblical reason as to why they chose to vote that way. I don’t even want to go into my thoughts on that. Oh alright, I will, just a little though because I’ve said it so many times before.
The idea that the people of this, or any, country place their religious beliefs before the rights and freedoms of its citizens should scare every single one of us. This, my friends, is the real glass ceiling we must break through before any of us can consider the results of this, or any, election a victory for the people. Is their anybody out there that still thinks that people choose to be gay? Well, I guess so. Just look at the results of Tuesdays vote. Absolutely ridiculous.
First, I’d like to congratulate the state of Michigan. Voting yes on both the medical marijuana and stem cell bills is something to be quite proud of. On the other hand there were three or four states that had a measure to ban gay marriage on their ballots and all of them passed. Arkansas passed a bill to ban gay couples from adopting children.
On the one hand it would seem we’ve made tremendous strides. The idea of electing a black man is something I think most of us can admit we never thought we’d see in our lifetimes. Kudos goes out to the entire nation for breaking through this long-standing barrier to progression.
On the other hand, the majority of the people that voted in the states of Arizona, California, Arkansas and Florida still feel the need to deny citizens rights that, to me at least, seem as basic as they get. I’m quite sure that if asked, most of those that voted against these bills would give some sort of biblical reason as to why they chose to vote that way. I don’t even want to go into my thoughts on that. Oh alright, I will, just a little though because I’ve said it so many times before.
The idea that the people of this, or any, country place their religious beliefs before the rights and freedoms of its citizens should scare every single one of us. This, my friends, is the real glass ceiling we must break through before any of us can consider the results of this, or any, election a victory for the people. Is their anybody out there that still thinks that people choose to be gay? Well, I guess so. Just look at the results of Tuesdays vote. Absolutely ridiculous.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Election '08
Ok kids, here we are. This is the moment Democrats have been waiting for since Gore won the popular vote but lost the election in 2000. I’ve written enough times about Barack Obama that, by now, you all know what a fan I am. I do have a few concerns about a couple different scenarios that could play out, not just today, but over the next four to eight years.
The concern for today is the obvious, these are the Democrats we’re talking about here and as I’ve said before, if there is one group of people that can come from ahead and lose, it’s the Dem’s. We saw it in 2000 and again in 2004. The only thing you and I can do about it is to help get the vote out. Call your friends and relatives and help get them to the polls if you have to. Most important, get to the polls yourself. This is easily the most important election of our lives and we’ll have nobody to blame but ourselves if we blow it.
My other concern is about the future. Whether Obama or McCain wins, the fear is how each chooses to actually govern. Personally, I’m a liberal. Actually there are some issues that liberals think I’m too far to the left on. On the other hand, I’m also a realist. If either candidate strays too far from the middle, once elected, I believe their presidency will be one of complete failure and will also be short lived.
The truth is that, in general, we Americans are really not that far apart when it comes to our politics. Now wait, don’t write and tell me what a fool I am quite yet, just look at the past. A major move to the middle saves Clinton’s Presidency. If you look at the approval polls for his first two years in office you’ll see they were nothing to be proud of. After being forced to move towards a safer middle ground he won the election with 379 electoral votes, basically a blowout. Please remember that this was in the middle of his being impeached by the majority Republican congress. I don’t think he would have stood a chance if he had stayed with the same platform he won with in 1992.
If Obama wins he will, as Clinton did, assume the office with a Democratic Congress. While I would have personally approved of Clinton’s sticking to more liberal policies, again, I’m a realist and know that without the Republican congress being voted into office in ’94 he would not have been forced to move away from those thoughts and I believe that is what saved his Presidency.
I want Barack Obama to win this election. I think this is my generations “Kennedy moment”. I do, however, hope that he doesn’t stray too far from the middle. Not because I’m some kind of centrist, but because I want his time in office to be successful. I don’t believe that either candidate can be successful without staying a little more to the center of the line.
Anyway, that’s what I’m thinking about this election day of 2008. Agree or disagree with me, it doesn’t really matter. I don’t think I’m breaking any new ground here by saying what I’ve said. The bottom line though is that only time will tell
The concern for today is the obvious, these are the Democrats we’re talking about here and as I’ve said before, if there is one group of people that can come from ahead and lose, it’s the Dem’s. We saw it in 2000 and again in 2004. The only thing you and I can do about it is to help get the vote out. Call your friends and relatives and help get them to the polls if you have to. Most important, get to the polls yourself. This is easily the most important election of our lives and we’ll have nobody to blame but ourselves if we blow it.
My other concern is about the future. Whether Obama or McCain wins, the fear is how each chooses to actually govern. Personally, I’m a liberal. Actually there are some issues that liberals think I’m too far to the left on. On the other hand, I’m also a realist. If either candidate strays too far from the middle, once elected, I believe their presidency will be one of complete failure and will also be short lived.
The truth is that, in general, we Americans are really not that far apart when it comes to our politics. Now wait, don’t write and tell me what a fool I am quite yet, just look at the past. A major move to the middle saves Clinton’s Presidency. If you look at the approval polls for his first two years in office you’ll see they were nothing to be proud of. After being forced to move towards a safer middle ground he won the election with 379 electoral votes, basically a blowout. Please remember that this was in the middle of his being impeached by the majority Republican congress. I don’t think he would have stood a chance if he had stayed with the same platform he won with in 1992.
If Obama wins he will, as Clinton did, assume the office with a Democratic Congress. While I would have personally approved of Clinton’s sticking to more liberal policies, again, I’m a realist and know that without the Republican congress being voted into office in ’94 he would not have been forced to move away from those thoughts and I believe that is what saved his Presidency.
I want Barack Obama to win this election. I think this is my generations “Kennedy moment”. I do, however, hope that he doesn’t stray too far from the middle. Not because I’m some kind of centrist, but because I want his time in office to be successful. I don’t believe that either candidate can be successful without staying a little more to the center of the line.
Anyway, that’s what I’m thinking about this election day of 2008. Agree or disagree with me, it doesn’t really matter. I don’t think I’m breaking any new ground here by saying what I’ve said. The bottom line though is that only time will tell
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Look Into My Eyes
You know, during the last month or so I’ve been revisiting my past a great deal. I’ve been hanging out on websites that help one connect with others and I’ve ended up getting in contact with a number of folks that I haven’t heard from in years. It’s pretty cool hearing from this long lost group of schoolmates as it brings back memories that take me to a time in life that I constantly wish I could do over again.
See, I spent my entire youth thinking that I was alone. Finding these folks that knew me back then really shows me that how one thinks of themselves can be so different than the way others see you. I am one of the most insecure people I know, to me, yet talking to those that knew me back then I get the impression that that side of me never really showed itself to them.
I posted some pictures of when I was a kid from the age of two until my senior year of high school onto my “Facebook” page and the comments received from people have kind of taken me aback. First is the recognition. The “hey, I remember you,” type things. Then I’ve gotten a couple from some girls I knew back then that tell me what a crush they had on me back then or how “cute” they always thought I was.
I cannot imagine what I would have done if I knew they felt that way. I don’t think I can remember a time in my life when I thought I was the least bit attractive and here are the very girls I use to be so afraid to even talk to telling me that they would have welcomed such an event. My fear of myself would never allow such a thing to have happened but it’s really nice to hear these things. It’s nice to feel that I may have been wrong about myself all those years ago. Of course the logical side of my brain has probably always known that. It’s the emotional side that always throws me into these tizzies.
I got in touch with one woman that I first met in fifth grade but haven’t seen or spoken to since the early eighties. When I sent her the original contact note I told her that I had always liked her because she always made me laugh and that was something that’s always been very important to me. In her response she stated that she was so glad to get in touch again because I was always so nice to her. I felt pretty good about that and I thought about that very statement for quite awhile.
I probably would be pretty upset if I found that there are people out there that I haven’t been nice to. One of the things I’ve always thought highly of about myself is that I’ve always treated people well. That’s not to say that I haven’t made fun of people, everyone does, I have just always thought that at the end of the day people really can’t complain about the way I’ve treated them. I think anyone can say that when looking at pictures of the groups of people they knew when they were young that this guy or that was “such a jerk” or “what an ass”. I truly don’t think that I can think of anyone back then that would think that way of me. That, my friends, makes me feel good. You know, I did something right.
One of the things that I’ve attempted to do while writing this blog is the proverbial self-examination. Looking to identify certain stages of my life and either the mistakes or the things done right throughout. Not that I could do anything to change the past or that I’m looking to blame anyone for my faults. I just, I don’t know, want to see if I can figure out the causes of both the good and the bad.
One of the pictures I posted is of my school picture for 11’Th grade. In it I have long hair and it’s kind of mussed up. I may very well have been high at the time but I don’t think it’s obvious or anything. The thing I notice most about it are my eyes. Something about them kind of captured me and I found myself staring into the picture. It seemed as if I was staring at them, searching them for a sign or something to let me know that he, or I as it may be, was ok with how I’ve turned out. I hope that if the boy in the photo could look into my eyes he’d see that though I may have been wrong about a great deal of the things I’ve done, I never purposely hurt anyone and my thoughts are not very far from the way I was back then, we’re ok. I think he’d think we’ve done all right and I think I agree with him.
Monday, October 6, 2008
You Should Meet My Sister
It’s been a pretty tough couple of months since I was laid off from my job. I’ve pretty much run out of money, self-esteem and the ability to laugh at myself. It’s become quite the pity party on this side of the road. I’m not apologizing; I think I’m allowed to feel this way. I was finally offered a job and accepted it here in the area. I was hired by Rite Aid as a Store Manager. If that doesn’t make you wonder about the well being of that company I don’t know what will. Anyway, it’s good to have a job and hopefully I’ll get that mojo back that I seem to have lost along the road.
There have been a few things that have gone on around here over the last few weeks that I feel are worth mentioning. I told you all about Jodie getting married. I think you can all imagine how much work goes into an occasion like that. Karen, the mother of the bride and my sister, worked like crazy to throw the magnificent shindig that a number of you attended. I think she deserves quite a lot of accolades for the good time she arranged for us all.
What some of you don’t know is what else was happening at the same time as the wedding. About a month or so before the wedding, Karen got a call from some people telling her that some folks from the television show “Extreme Home Makeover” were coming to town and wanted to speak to her about being the builder for the house they were going to build in the area.
Karen and Bob have always been big on the charity thing. The company has received awards for their giving nature. Hell, the house I live in was originally built to raise funds for St Jude’s Children’s Hospital. That being said, Karen was quite interested in helping out. As more and more information came in she started seeing how big of a job this was going to be. I know there were many moments when she just plain wanted to call the show and say she couldn’t do it but she stuck with it.
I have never seen the show but those that have will know what I mean when I talk about this next thing. They have this thing called a door knock at the beginning of the show where they surprise the family and let them know that they have been chosen for the “Makeover”. Well, Karen asked when the door knock was and she was given the date. The “Door knock” was set to be on the same day as her daughters wedding. Be honest with yourselves here, how many of you would have quit the show right there? I know I would have and I’m pretty positive a huge percentage of you guys would have too.
Karen and I laughed a great deal about the timing of all this but I don’t think there was ever a time when anyone knowing her didn’t think she could pull this off. The common response when people were told of the dual jobs Karen had going on at the same time was along the lines of, “ well, if there’s anyone that can get this done, it’s your sister”.
I use to marvel at how well my ex-wife would perform under pressure. Well, Shelly, you’ve met your match and more. Here’s a woman who, with her husband, is running a company and trying to keep it afloat during some of the most trying economic times of our lives, while also trying to arrange a large wedding for her daughter while at the same time gathering a huge volunteer group to build a 3100 sq. ft. house in 106 hours. Overwhelming is one word that comes to mind.
The end result of all this is the newlyweds are now in Hawaii on their honeymoon and the house was given to the family this past Friday but there was so much more to it and I have nowhere near the talent to put it all into words. You should have seen her in action. There’s not a retail outlet in the world that couldn’t use her organizational skills. Her ability to get all these volunteers to give their time and money to the house was astounding. Yes, she had a ton of help but they wouldn’t have helped if it weren’t Karen asking for it.
I was at the site of the house a bunch of times and she was like a buzz saw. Looking left and going right with barely a blink while commanding a group of volunteers who all deserve an award for their efforts. Karen was certainly at the top of the mountain of people who did this amazing act of kindness. You should have seen her…
There have been a few things that have gone on around here over the last few weeks that I feel are worth mentioning. I told you all about Jodie getting married. I think you can all imagine how much work goes into an occasion like that. Karen, the mother of the bride and my sister, worked like crazy to throw the magnificent shindig that a number of you attended. I think she deserves quite a lot of accolades for the good time she arranged for us all.
What some of you don’t know is what else was happening at the same time as the wedding. About a month or so before the wedding, Karen got a call from some people telling her that some folks from the television show “Extreme Home Makeover” were coming to town and wanted to speak to her about being the builder for the house they were going to build in the area.
Karen and Bob have always been big on the charity thing. The company has received awards for their giving nature. Hell, the house I live in was originally built to raise funds for St Jude’s Children’s Hospital. That being said, Karen was quite interested in helping out. As more and more information came in she started seeing how big of a job this was going to be. I know there were many moments when she just plain wanted to call the show and say she couldn’t do it but she stuck with it.
I have never seen the show but those that have will know what I mean when I talk about this next thing. They have this thing called a door knock at the beginning of the show where they surprise the family and let them know that they have been chosen for the “Makeover”. Well, Karen asked when the door knock was and she was given the date. The “Door knock” was set to be on the same day as her daughters wedding. Be honest with yourselves here, how many of you would have quit the show right there? I know I would have and I’m pretty positive a huge percentage of you guys would have too.
Karen and I laughed a great deal about the timing of all this but I don’t think there was ever a time when anyone knowing her didn’t think she could pull this off. The common response when people were told of the dual jobs Karen had going on at the same time was along the lines of, “ well, if there’s anyone that can get this done, it’s your sister”.
I use to marvel at how well my ex-wife would perform under pressure. Well, Shelly, you’ve met your match and more. Here’s a woman who, with her husband, is running a company and trying to keep it afloat during some of the most trying economic times of our lives, while also trying to arrange a large wedding for her daughter while at the same time gathering a huge volunteer group to build a 3100 sq. ft. house in 106 hours. Overwhelming is one word that comes to mind.
The end result of all this is the newlyweds are now in Hawaii on their honeymoon and the house was given to the family this past Friday but there was so much more to it and I have nowhere near the talent to put it all into words. You should have seen her in action. There’s not a retail outlet in the world that couldn’t use her organizational skills. Her ability to get all these volunteers to give their time and money to the house was astounding. Yes, she had a ton of help but they wouldn’t have helped if it weren’t Karen asking for it.
I was at the site of the house a bunch of times and she was like a buzz saw. Looking left and going right with barely a blink while commanding a group of volunteers who all deserve an award for their efforts. Karen was certainly at the top of the mountain of people who did this amazing act of kindness. You should have seen her…
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Jodie Gets Married
I went to my nieces wedding last Friday night. Jodie is my sister’s middle child. She has an older sister, Kori, and a younger brother, Ryan. Either due to my lack of maturity, or their more mature nature, I’m certainly not considered your average uncle. That being said, I’m more along the line of their friend instead of their mother’s brother. They don’t call me Uncle unless talking about me, or introducing me to others.
Of the three kids I’ve always felt that Jodie and I were closer than I am with the others and I think she feels the same. That in no way means that I have any kind of problem with the other two and I don’t believe they have any bad feelings towards me. I get along wonderfully with all three but there’s always been a more, I don’t know, friend like relationship with Jodie. Even when she was a little girl and I’d be around she would always just come up to me and hop up on my lap or lay down on top of me when I would be on the floor watching television. Since I’ve been back in town we go to movies or out to eat or just out screwing around and talking. She knows that she can talk to me about anything and I’ve always been very proud of that.
Jodie’s appeared in a few of my previous posts as has her new husband Mike. I also consider Mike a friend and think he feels the same. I often, well not often but sometimes, go out for a drink with him and have done a few other things with him. As a matter of fact, Mike is the guy that I went to that racecar-driving thing with that I wrote about in a previous post.
Anyway, the wedding was at one of the local country clubs around here and it was very nice. The ceremony was held outdoors and the weather was perfect. The wedding party all looked great as they came down the aisle and Jodie looked like the royalty she’s aspired to since the day she was born.
It’s quite normal for me to get all-emotional at weddings and this day was no exception. It’s kind of nice being alone at these events as I can tear up and nobody else can see. I felt a little better about myself when I looked at Mike as he awaited Jodie’s walk down the aisle. I could see his eyes were just as wet as mine. It certainly wouldn’t have taken much to make him lose it completely and I’m glad he had the strength to reign it all in. Mike’s told me on numerous occasions how much he loves Jodie and seeing his face as she was walking towards him could leave no doubt in anyone’s mind. It was quite obvious that he had been waiting for this moment for just as long as Jodie had.
I can’t tell you how proud I am of both of these kids. Not only are they my niece and (new) nephew. They are both good friends. What better way to spend a day than to watch two of your favorite people make the commitment to spend the rest of their lives together?
Well, I took them both to the airport yesterday for their honeymoon and I truly hope they have the time of their young lives. I can only leave them with one wish and that is to hold each other close no matter how far apart you may seem to be. Also remember that UK (that’s what they call me sometimes) is here for you both at any time as are numerous others for anything you guys may need.
You’ve got a bumpy road in front of you both but they are bumps that are made much easier to go over if you start from the premise of just plain being nice to each other. I think that, for me, is the best yet simplest advice I can give you. Be nice to each other. It’ll give you such a head start on anything you ever do together.
Of the three kids I’ve always felt that Jodie and I were closer than I am with the others and I think she feels the same. That in no way means that I have any kind of problem with the other two and I don’t believe they have any bad feelings towards me. I get along wonderfully with all three but there’s always been a more, I don’t know, friend like relationship with Jodie. Even when she was a little girl and I’d be around she would always just come up to me and hop up on my lap or lay down on top of me when I would be on the floor watching television. Since I’ve been back in town we go to movies or out to eat or just out screwing around and talking. She knows that she can talk to me about anything and I’ve always been very proud of that.
Jodie’s appeared in a few of my previous posts as has her new husband Mike. I also consider Mike a friend and think he feels the same. I often, well not often but sometimes, go out for a drink with him and have done a few other things with him. As a matter of fact, Mike is the guy that I went to that racecar-driving thing with that I wrote about in a previous post.
Anyway, the wedding was at one of the local country clubs around here and it was very nice. The ceremony was held outdoors and the weather was perfect. The wedding party all looked great as they came down the aisle and Jodie looked like the royalty she’s aspired to since the day she was born.
It’s quite normal for me to get all-emotional at weddings and this day was no exception. It’s kind of nice being alone at these events as I can tear up and nobody else can see. I felt a little better about myself when I looked at Mike as he awaited Jodie’s walk down the aisle. I could see his eyes were just as wet as mine. It certainly wouldn’t have taken much to make him lose it completely and I’m glad he had the strength to reign it all in. Mike’s told me on numerous occasions how much he loves Jodie and seeing his face as she was walking towards him could leave no doubt in anyone’s mind. It was quite obvious that he had been waiting for this moment for just as long as Jodie had.
I can’t tell you how proud I am of both of these kids. Not only are they my niece and (new) nephew. They are both good friends. What better way to spend a day than to watch two of your favorite people make the commitment to spend the rest of their lives together?
Well, I took them both to the airport yesterday for their honeymoon and I truly hope they have the time of their young lives. I can only leave them with one wish and that is to hold each other close no matter how far apart you may seem to be. Also remember that UK (that’s what they call me sometimes) is here for you both at any time as are numerous others for anything you guys may need.
You’ve got a bumpy road in front of you both but they are bumps that are made much easier to go over if you start from the premise of just plain being nice to each other. I think that, for me, is the best yet simplest advice I can give you. Be nice to each other. It’ll give you such a head start on anything you ever do together.
Monday, September 29, 2008
It's All About The Boredom
nacho–noun, plural -chos. Mexican Cookery.
[Origin: 1965–70; < MexSp; ulterior
a snack or appetizer consisting of a small piece of tortilla topped with cheese, hot peppers, etc., and broiled.
I got up at 4:00 in the morning the other day to drive down to Detroit Metro to pick up my nephew who came in for his sisters wedding. Hell of a drive for someone but I figure, what the hell, I’m not doing anything anyways. It’s about an hour and a half from here but it’s one of those things that needed to get done for the wedding.
I left the house and drove up to the local “Speedway” gas station to get some coffee. I went in and while I was pouring my joe I noticed this big rack of chips in little black plastic dishes. Along with the rack was a sign that said “Nachos .99”. Next to that sign was an even bigger sign that said “Free Cheese and Chili”. This seemed odd to me. I mean, aren’t nachos, by definition, oh wait, read the definition above.
Well, I couldn’t let something like this go unchecked. I had to ask the guy behind the counter about this confusing conundrum. I mean, were the chips .99 or were they cheaper? How about the chili and cheese? Where do they fall into this equation and how much could I get away with while trying to make this clerks head explode?
So I fixed up my coffee and went to pay for it. I asked the guy how much the chips were and he told me .99. I asked how much nachos were. He said the same. I asked how much chili and cheese costs. He said they were free. I asked where the bowls were. That’s where I got him. He said they didn’t have bowls. I asked him how I was supposed to get some chili and cheese without a bowl?
He was stumped. All he needed to say was that the chili and cheese were for the chips and I would have been on my way. He truly was baffled about what to do next. Here was some guy asking questions about some free chili at 4:30 in the morning and he just had a look on his face that was pleading with me to leave. I was feeling a little feisty and just couldn’t let him off the hook that easily.
I just couldn’t help myself. I don’t know what it was but as soon as I saw the two signs something struck me. I know I shouldn’t have picked on the guy behind the counter but it made me laugh just thinking about the possibilities. I think the reaction I was expecting when I brought the whole subject up was for him to just laugh and get the joke. He didn’t and that made me want to see how far it could go.
I decided to ask if I could just take a coffee cup and fill it up. He asked me to hold on and he would check in back to see if there were any bowls in the back. I had to stop it right there. I couldn’t let this guy take it any further. I told him I was just screwing around and apologized. He laughed nervously and said he was totally confused and didn’t know what to do. I explained that I was just bored and wanted to play around. I don’t think he really understood the whole thing. He came out from behind the counter and looked below the counter where the chips and coffee were. I think he was still looking for a container to put the chili in.
I know this wasn’t a very nice thing to do but I was just trying to get a laugh. I can’t help it if the guy behind the counter got all flustered. It was 4:30 in the morning for Pete’s sake. What am I supposed to do, just let it go?
[Origin: 1965–70; < MexSp; ulterior
a snack or appetizer consisting of a small piece of tortilla topped with cheese, hot peppers, etc., and broiled.
I got up at 4:00 in the morning the other day to drive down to Detroit Metro to pick up my nephew who came in for his sisters wedding. Hell of a drive for someone but I figure, what the hell, I’m not doing anything anyways. It’s about an hour and a half from here but it’s one of those things that needed to get done for the wedding.
I left the house and drove up to the local “Speedway” gas station to get some coffee. I went in and while I was pouring my joe I noticed this big rack of chips in little black plastic dishes. Along with the rack was a sign that said “Nachos .99”. Next to that sign was an even bigger sign that said “Free Cheese and Chili”. This seemed odd to me. I mean, aren’t nachos, by definition, oh wait, read the definition above.
Well, I couldn’t let something like this go unchecked. I had to ask the guy behind the counter about this confusing conundrum. I mean, were the chips .99 or were they cheaper? How about the chili and cheese? Where do they fall into this equation and how much could I get away with while trying to make this clerks head explode?
So I fixed up my coffee and went to pay for it. I asked the guy how much the chips were and he told me .99. I asked how much nachos were. He said the same. I asked how much chili and cheese costs. He said they were free. I asked where the bowls were. That’s where I got him. He said they didn’t have bowls. I asked him how I was supposed to get some chili and cheese without a bowl?
He was stumped. All he needed to say was that the chili and cheese were for the chips and I would have been on my way. He truly was baffled about what to do next. Here was some guy asking questions about some free chili at 4:30 in the morning and he just had a look on his face that was pleading with me to leave. I was feeling a little feisty and just couldn’t let him off the hook that easily.
I just couldn’t help myself. I don’t know what it was but as soon as I saw the two signs something struck me. I know I shouldn’t have picked on the guy behind the counter but it made me laugh just thinking about the possibilities. I think the reaction I was expecting when I brought the whole subject up was for him to just laugh and get the joke. He didn’t and that made me want to see how far it could go.
I decided to ask if I could just take a coffee cup and fill it up. He asked me to hold on and he would check in back to see if there were any bowls in the back. I had to stop it right there. I couldn’t let this guy take it any further. I told him I was just screwing around and apologized. He laughed nervously and said he was totally confused and didn’t know what to do. I explained that I was just bored and wanted to play around. I don’t think he really understood the whole thing. He came out from behind the counter and looked below the counter where the chips and coffee were. I think he was still looking for a container to put the chili in.
I know this wasn’t a very nice thing to do but I was just trying to get a laugh. I can’t help it if the guy behind the counter got all flustered. It was 4:30 in the morning for Pete’s sake. What am I supposed to do, just let it go?
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