Dispatches

I have not been posting much recently because that which I have dreaded has occurred. I broke down and purchased an Xbox. For two weeks it has owned my soul, but I have begun to regain some of my independence.

Sunday night was quite an adventure. I was working in the bookstore, as I am wont to do on weekends and I was straightening the books in the history section, which is right by our restrooms.

Found this quiz from Double-Dipping’s blog (which no longer exists). It is unfortunately accurate. eXpressive: 4/10 Practical: 5/10 Physical: 3/10 Giver: 10/10 You are a <strong>RPIG</strong>--Reserved Practical Intellectual Giver. This makes you a <strong>Rock of Gibraltar</strong>.

I have been having a lot of nightmares about work recently. Weird stuff in which friends and colleagues turn on me. The worst part about it is that when I wake up I have a lot of trouble seperating which memos and conversations I actually had and which ones I merely dreamed.

So I was looking through some old photos last night and found a photo with a note on back from my friend who I will call Robin. The note said, “Where is my geisha shirt?

Okay, I was just reading a Wired article about some Australian scientists that are trying to grow a “stitchless [and] victimless” leather coat from living human and mouse cells. You can find the article here.

I have found that listening to the Clash or Morphine is particularly good for repetitive paperwork. The fast reggae-punk of the Clash and the sultry sound of the saxaphone in Morphine’s music get you into a groove that makes the process of data entry, filing and processing go so much faster.

I came in to the bookstore tonight and saw a large memo plastered to the breakroom wall. Attn Booksellers: We cannot ship nudie mags to jails and prisons. We can try, but they are invariably returned.

Okay, I have a confession. Please do not hold it against me, but I am a Data Gypsy. I have no computer of my own due to a long series of unfortunate mishaps so I must travel and use what computing resources are available to me.

Yet another fun thing in the bookstore is to reshelve and straighten the sexuality section. This is fun because you are guaranteed some good people watching as your presence makes the inevitable teenager or twenty-something in that aisle very uncomfortable.

So I was working in the bookstore tonight, which I actually enjoy because it is really cool getting people to read cool books. Admittedly, it can be frustrating when you see some of the shite that passes for literature appearing on the best-seller list, but on the whole the work is rewarding.

I have recently rediscovered my love for StrongBad and Eric Conveys An Emotion. Check them out, you are guaranteed to laugh.

I, as I have recently realized, am an arrogant fuck. I have always been to some degree been aware of this, but it always seemed easy to justify before. I am not pleased with this revelation about myself, especially as I have always had a certain impatience with people I perceive as condescending.

I am so excited because Autumn weather has finally arrived. This is my favorite time of year. I love watching the leaves turn and get blown in baby cyclones by the wind.

I just had a lovely chat with one of my drivers. She is somewhat of a troublesome employee as she always seems to get into trouble, but magically squeaks by any serious repercussions most of the time.

So my friend Zach keeps trying to convince me to buy an XBox. Now, I am not much of a gamer. I mean, I used to play some strategy games on the computer ( or as I prefer to say, “strategery”), and I am quite fond of Go (I’m bad at it) and Diplomacy (somewhat better at), but I’ve never really had the knack for console games.

Don't tell anyone, but I am writing this at work. I sat down, looked at the mammoth pile of paperwork on my desk, looked at my code and became numb with anti-productivity.

Sometimes, it is better to leave things a mystery. Most people think they are dull. I just spent an hour trying to explain this project I am working on at my job.

My Inner Geek is alive and well. Last night my friend and I completely geeked out to the Star Wars DVD trilogy. It is the simple things in life you treasure.

I got home late last night. I supplement my income by working as a bookseller at a major chain store on weekends. It works out pretty well. I get a discount my addiction (books), I get a little extra money to help with gas for commuting and I get to work around said “narcotic”.